The sight of Lionel Messi winning the Ballon d’Or award is not an unfamiliar one.

Between the Barcelona forward and arch rival Cristiano Ronaldo, the pair have shared the award 11 times in the last dozen years, with Messi picking up his sixth gong on Monday night to reclaim his title as the best footballer on the planet.

But despite the 32-year-old finishing just ahead of Ronaldo in four of his past triumphs, this time it was Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk who provided the stiffest competition – and the margin has never been tighter.

In what is the slimmest advantage of all six of Messi’s triumphs, the Barcelona maestro earned 686 points in the France Football annual vote for the best player on the planet, pipping Van Dijk to the gong by surpassing his 679 points.

Van Dijk came within a whisker of becoming only the fourth defender of all time to win the award, with Franz Beckenbauer, Matthias Sammer and Fabio Cannovaro the only names before him to have plied their trade at the back.

How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Show all 59 1 /59 How Messi won the Ballon d'Or How Messi won the Ballon d'Or How Lionel Messi won the 2019 Ballon d'Or SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 15: (EDITORS NOTE: This image has been processed using digitals filters) Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks on during the La Liga match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona at Estadio Anoeta on September 15, 2018 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images) Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Sevilla 1-2 Barcelona TOPSHOT - Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (C) carries the cup as they celebrate at the end of the Spanish Super Cup final between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Ibn Batouta Stadium in the Moroccan city of Tangiers on August 12, 2018. - Barcelona defeated Sevilla 2-1 to win the Spanish Super Cup. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP) (Photo credit should read FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 3-0 Alaves Two goals Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Valladolid 0-1 Barcelona Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi gestures during the Spanish league football match between Real Valladolid and FC Barcelona at the Jose Zorrilla Stadium in Valladolid on August 25, 2018. (Photo by Benjamin CREMEL / AFP) (Photo credit should read BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 8-2 Huesca Two goals Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Sociedad 1-2 Barcelona SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 15: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks on during the La Liga match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona at Estadio Anoeta on September 15, 2018 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images) Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 4-0 PSV Hat-trick AFP via Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 2-2 Girona One goal Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Leganes 2-1 Barcelona LEGANES, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 26: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona reacts as he fails to score during the La Liga match between CD Leganes and FC Barcelona at Estadio Municipal de Butarque on September 26, 2018 in Leganes, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 1-1 Ath Bilbao Yellow card Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Tottenham 2-4 Barcelona Two goals Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Valencia 1-1 Barcelona One goal AFP via Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 4-2 Sevilla One goal Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 3-4 Real Betis Two goals Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Atletico Madrid 1-1 Barcelona Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (R) and Atletico Madrid's French forward Antoine Griezmann wait to be passed the ball during the Spanish league football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on November 24, 2018. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP) (Photo credit should read OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or PSV 1-2 Barcelona One goal Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 2-0 Villarreal Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (C) vies with Villarreal's Spanish defender Alvaro Gonzalez (L) and Villarreal's Spanish defender Mario during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona against Villarreal CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on December 2, 2018. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP) (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Espanyol 0-4 Barcelona Two goals AFP via Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 1-1 Tottenham BARCELONA, SPAIN - DECEMBER 11: Lionel Messi of Barcelona replaces Munir El Haddadi as a substitute during the UEFA Champions League Group B match between FC Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur at Camp Nou on December 11, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Levante 0-5 Barcelona Hat-trick AFP via Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 2-0 Celta Vigo One goal Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Getafe 1-2 Barelona One goal Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 3-0 Eibar One goal Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 3-0 Levante One goal Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 3-1 Leganes One goal Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Girona 0-2 Barcelona One goal Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 6-1 Sevilla One goal Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 2-2 Valencia Two goals Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 27: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks on prior to the kick off during the Copa del Semi Final match second leg between Real Madrid and Barcelona at Bernabeu on February 27, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Athletic Bilbao 0-0 Barcelona BILBAO, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 10: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona reacts during the La Liga match between Athletic Club and FC Barcelona at San Mames Stadium on February 10, 2019 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 1-0 Valladolid One goal, yellow card Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Lyon 0-0 Barcelona Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi reacts during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Lyon (OL) and FC Barcelona on February 19, 2019, at the Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, central-eastern France. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Sevilla 2-4 Barcelona Hat-trick AFP via Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Real Madrid 0-3 Barcelona Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates their win with Barcelona's German goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen at the end of the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) semi-final second leg football match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on February 27, 2019. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP) (Photo credit should read OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (L) argues with Real Madrid's Spanish defender Sergio Ramos during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 2, 2019. (Photo by CURTO DE LA TORRE / AFP) (Photo credit should read CURTO DE LA TORRE/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 3-1 Vallecano One goal Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 5-1 Lyon Two goals Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Real Betis 1-4 Barcelona Three goals Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Argentina 1-3 Venezuela MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 22: Leo Messi during the International Friendly match between Argentina and Venezuela at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on March 22, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 2-0 Espanyol Two goals Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Villarreal 4-4 Barcelona One goal, yellow card Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 2-0 Atletico Madrid One goal Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Manchester United 0-1 Barcelona MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 10: Lionel Messi of Barcelona goes down injured during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final first leg match between Manchester United and FC Barcelona at Old Trafford on April 10, 2019 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 3-0 Manchester United Two goals Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 2-1 Sociedad BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 20: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona takes a free kick during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad at Camp Nou on April 20, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Alaves 0-2 Barcelona VITORIA-GASTEIZ, SPAIN - APRIL 23: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona reacts during the La Liga match between Deportivo Alaves and FC Barcelona at Estadio de Mendizorroza on April 23, 2019 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 1-0 Levante One goal AFP via Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 3-0 Liverpool Two goals AFP via Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Lionel Messi of Barcelona looks thoughtful during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final second leg match between Liverpool and Barcelona at Anfield on May 07, 2019 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 2-0 Getafe TOPSHOT - Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (L) runs with the ball during the Spanish League football match between Barcelona and Getafe at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona on May 12, 2019. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP) (Photo credit should read JOSEP LAGO/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Eibar 2-2 Barcelona Two goals Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Barcelona 1-2 Valencia One goal Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Argentina 5-1 Nicaragua Two goals Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Argentina 0-2 Colombia SALVADOR, BRAZIL - JUNE 15: Referee Roberto Tobar shows a yellow card to Juan Cuadrado of Colombia after a foul to Lionel Messi of Argentina during the Copa America Brazil 2019 group B match between Argentina and Colombia at Arena Fonte Nova on June 15, 2019 in Salvador, Brazil. (Photo by Bruna Prado/Getty Images) Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Argentina 1-1 Paraguay One goal Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Qatar 0-2 Argentina PORTO ALEGRE, BRAZIL - JUNE 23: Sergio AgÃ¼ero of Argentina celebrates with teammates after scoring the second goal of his team during the Copa America Brazil 2019 group B match between Qatar and Argentina at Arena do Gremio on June 23, 2019 in Porto Alegre, Brazil. (Photo by Alessandra Cabral/Getty Images) Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Venezuela 0-2 Argentina RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JUNE 28: Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after winning the Copa America Brazil 2019 quarterfinal match between Argentina and Venezuela at Maracana Stadium on June 28, 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Lucas Uebel/Getty Images) Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Brazil 2-0 Argentina Argentina's Lionel Messi (L) and Brazil's Casemiro vie for the ball during their Copa America football tournament semi-final match at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on July 2, 2019. (Photo by Nelson ALMEIDA / AFP) (Photo credit should read NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images How Messi won the Ballon d'Or Argentina 2-1 Chile Red card Getty Images

In fact, Van Dijk was selected as the No 1 choice eight times more than Messi, with the Liverpool defender’s tally of 69 beating the 61 of the Argentine midfielder. However, the presence of Messi in almost all of the top-five selections meant that he was able to bridge the gap to Van Dijk, who did not feature as prominently across the board.

Taking in how different continents voted, Van Dijk emerged on top across Europe and Asia, with Messi dominating in Africa, North America, South America and Oceania. Pivotally for Van Dijk though, the African nations voted his Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane in second place behind Messi, putting the forward 16 votes ahead of the Dutch centre-back and costing him the Ballon d’Or.

Across the five other regions, Messi and Van Dijk filled the top two, meaning that had the vote played out the same in Africa with Van Dijk and Mane reversed, the Liverpool defender would have beaten Messi to the footballer of the year award.

The votes are cast by a prominent journalist or broadcaster from each of the 176 voting nations, with Messi and Van Dijk finishing well clear of third-placed Cristiano Ronaldo. The Juventus forward, who claimed 476 votes, decided against attending the ceremony in Paris so that he could receive the award for the Serie A Forward of the Year back in Italy.

Ballon d’or 2019 votes in full

1. Lionel Messi – 686

2. Virgil van Dijk – 679

3. Cristiano Ronaldo – 476

4. Sadio Mane – 347

5. Mohamed Salah – 178

6. Kylian Mbappe – 89

7. Alisson – 67

8. Robert Lewandowski – 44

9. Bernardo Silva – 41

10. Riyad Mahrez – 33

11. Frenkie de Jong – 31

12. Raheem Sterling – 30

13. Eden Hazard – 25

14. Kevin de Bruyne – 14

15. Matthijs de Ligt – 13

16. Sergio Aguero – 12

17. Roberto Firmino – 11

18. Antoine Griezmann – 9

19. Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8

=20. Dusan Tadic – 5

=20. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 5

22. Son Heung-min – 4

23. Hugo Lloris – 3

=24. Kalidou Koulibaly – 2

=24. Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 2

=26. Karim Benzema – 1

=26. Giorginio Wijnaldum – 1

=28. Donny van de Beek – 0

=28. Joao Felix – 0