Barcelona’s Lionel Messi makes his case for 2015 Ballon d’Or award – in pictures

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  Barcelona’s Lionel Messi with River Plate’s Eder Balanta and Gonzalo Martinez in action. Reuters / Issei Kato

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  Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi reacts after being hit by Betis’ goalkeeper during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs Real Betis Balompie at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on December 30, 2015. AFP PHOTO/ PAU BARRENA

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  Barcelona's Lionel Messi, right, scores his second goal past Bayern's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer during the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, May 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

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  In this Saturday, June 6, 2015 file photo, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi kisses the Champions League trophy after his team defeated Juventus 3-1 in the final at the Olympic stadium in Berlin. Barcelona’s victory was its fifth and meant it became the first European team to complete the treble on two occasions. Before the final, Barcelona had secured Spain’s two main domestic competitions. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

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  Barcelona's Lionel Messi, right, jokes with Neymar during the final training session at the BayArena prior the Champions League group E soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and FC Barcelona in Leverkusen, Germany, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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  Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his first goal at Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain on 12/12/15. REUTERS/Juan Medina

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  Barcelona’s Argentinian striker Lionel Messi (front) scores the 1-0 goal during the Spanish Liga Primera Division soccer match between FC Barcelona and Deportivo Coruna played at Camp Nou stadium, in Barcelona, Spain, 12 December 2015. EPA/Quique Garcia

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  Barcelona's Lionel Messi grimaces as he lies on the pitch after injuring his left knee during their Spanish first division soccer match against Las Palmas at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, September 26, 2015. REUTERS/Sergio Perez

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  Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a goal against Atletico Madrid during their Spanish first division soccer match at Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, September 12, 2015. REUTERS/Javier Barbancho

As the 2015 Ballon d'Or awards ceremony approaches on January 11, Andy Mitten makes a case for why Barcelona's Lionel Messi deserves the award ahead of fellow nominees, Barcelona teammate Neymar and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo. Here is a look back on some Messi moments from the previous year.

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