Soccer: Messi's fifth place in Ballon d'Or absurd - Barca coach

Lionel Messi's fifth-place finish in this year's Ballon d'Or vote was absurd, Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said of the Spanish champions' Argentina forward on Tuesday. Real Madrid's Croatia midfielder Luka Modric took the prize on Monday in Paris after winning the Champions League and being named player of the tournament at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.