FIFA accidentally list Messi as Ballon d’Or winner

A leaked screenshot of the FIFA website listed Lionel Messi as the Ballon d’Or winner five days before the official ceremony.

This year, Lionel Messi is being nominated for his sixth Ballon d’Or of his career alongside teammate Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo. It’s no secret that Messi is the favorite to collect the trophy after leading his team to a treble in Luis Enrique’s first season in charge. However, FIFA – who can’t seem to avoid getting made fun of – goofed again, when a screenshot of their website listed Messi, along with Celia Sasic, as the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or winners respectively.

FIFA were quick to remove the mistake before flat out denying it on Twitter:

Celia Sasic helped get the Germans to a top-four finish at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, establishing them as a mainstay near the top.

Messi’s accomplishments speak for themselves. In 2015, he dished out 58 goals and 26 assists, which included highlight-reel goals such as this and this. He also led his national team to the Copa America final a year after they went all the way to the World Cup final. However, like the World Cup, his team came up short against Chile but that shouldn’t take away from his brilliant year. If we all expected Messi to add to his Ballon d’Or cabinet, this gaffe may have all but confirmed it.