Bartomeu: Messi should win Ballon d'Or every year

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu believes Lionel Messi should win the Ballon d'Or every year.

Messi - a five-time winner of the award - finished runner-up to Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo when the results for 2016 were published last week.

But Bartomeu claims the Argentina international was robbed, recommending that Messi tops the list of the world's best players every time the prize-giving comes around.

"The Ballon d'Or should be for Lionel Messi every year," he told a news conference.

"He's the best player in the history of world football. He has been for many years.

"We've seen his success on and off the field and, the way he is, it's difficult to see that there'll be another Messi in the future. Hopefully another player will come along like him to our club.

"Messi has transcended the sports world, not just because of football but because of his values and the way he is.

"There are other great players in football but the number one is Messi."

Messi has scored 23 goals in 20 appearances for Barcelona this season.