Lionel Messi transfer latest: Ballon d'Or winner commits career to Barcelona to disappoint Manchester City and Chelsea
Messi announced during his victory speech at the Ballon d'Or ceremony that he wants to end his career at Barcelona
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester City and Chelsea look set to be disappointed in their long-term ambitions to sign five-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi after the Barcelona forward celebrated his most recent victory by declaring he wants to end his career at the Nou Camp.
Messi beat off competition from his team-mate, Neymar, and reigning Ballon d’Or holder, Cristiano Ronaldo, to reclaim the award on Monday night after seeing the Real Madrid forward take the plaudits for the past two years.
The 28-year-old added the 2015 accolade to his four previous successes between 2009 and 2012, and while he admitted that winning the accolade for a fifth time was beyond his wildest expectations, he seized the moment to declare his commitment to Barcelona until he hangs up his boots.
"A year ago, we were all getting criticised, and we ended up winning nearly everything,” Messi said after collecting the trophy from 2007 winner Kakaand acting Fifa president Issa Hayatou. “My intention is to terminate my career where I started it in Barcelona.
"It is a very special moment for me to be back here on this stage, winning again another Ballon d'Or after being there in the audience watching Cristiano win.
"It's incredible this is my fifth. It's much more than anything I've dreamed of as a kid."
Once the ceremony had drawn to a close, the full voting revealed that Messi actually voted for another Barcelona team-mate in Luis Suarez as his first choice, with Neymar second and Andres Iniesta third, and the 28-year-old Argentine reiterated his desire to see Suarez join him and Neymar on the Ballon d’Or shortlist in the future at the expense of Ronaldo.
"Luis deserves to be here because he is an extraordinary player and he has helped us a lot,” Messi told Spanish newspaper AS.
"Hopefully I can be here one day with Luis and Neymar, that would be amazing."
However, Messi did have kind words for three-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo, as he said afterwards: "We've always had a good relationship. There has always been respect and admiration between us."
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