From Alkali Yusuf, Abuja The Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo was named the Italian Player of the Year on the same night he was beaten by Lionel Messi to the football’s most prestigious award. Ronaldo, 34, was conspicuous in his absence in Paris as Messi made history with a 6 Ballon d’Or win. That put the Blaugrana star one ahead of his old rival, who last won the award in 2017. Messi, 32, strengthened his claim as the world’s best player as he pipped Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk at a glitzy Paris ceremony – with Ronaldo voted down as third. Van...