The 25 Best Football Pictures of the Week on Instagram

Despite a rare midweek treat of blistering Premier League action, it was events away from the pitch that got players truly excited this week.

The week began with the FIFA Ballon d'Or ceremony, which saw Lionel Messi recognised as the best player on the planet for a fifth time. Typically, some of the biggest names in football lined up for selfies with the man of the hour.

It was also a week in which the NBA descended on London, cue plenty of Arsenal and Chelsea players becoming overnight ballers. Here's the 25 best football pictures from Instagram this week.

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Caption: Day 11 of the #BMO programme: gym & cardio Monday. I'm seeing small differences, & I'm hoping by the end of this programme all these small differences will constitute into the improvement I'm looking for. #WorkingProgress #BMO #Cardio&GymMonday #OneWordPureClass #BeastModeOn #SlightImprovement #GymLife

Caption: "Dia especial nunca puede faltar persona especial" Un placer compartir ese dia contigo gordita @joanasanz

Caption: My lil Auba ❤️ #Curtys #aubameyang #PEA17

Caption: Good couple hours recovery in the gym, now just having a round with my mate

Caption: Going to be on the road for couple days, luckily i have my portable Ps4 with me, first game chelsea away

Caption: Cuántas veces le pedimos la #gameboy a los #ReyesMagos y pasaron de nosotros?? Fui malo ese año?? Sólo unos pocos eran los elegidos para tenerla!! Yo jamás!! @generaciondelaegb ,va por vosotros!!

Caption: Shooting day ✌️

Caption: "Muito bom trabalho família e já estamos na seguinte fase" #focus👀 #alwaysenjoying😂 #goodcrazy😇 bad boys, bad boys Watch gonna do, watch gonna do when they come for you

Caption: #oldpics #babyface

Caption: Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes! And a special thank to my bro @cnyt12 for the cake #ynwa #liverpool

Caption: Back home @_rl9 @da_27 #partofmario

Caption: o freut sich Shinji, wenn er türkischen Tee sieht ... // ... that's the way #Shinji likes it when he sees turkish tea ... #cay #kagawa #bvb

Caption: Match nba with the boyss @thibautcourtois @kurtzouma @loicremy972 @kenedy @djilo15

Caption: Un placer poder compartir este momento con vosotros @danid2ois, @neymarjr y en especial contigo @leomessi. Muchas felicidades por este quinto Balón de Oro. Eres único!

Caption: Tanti auguri mamita!!

Caption: Tennis number one star! @djokernole it was a pleasure to meet you!

Caption: Real honour to be in that Team. So sad to be not on Stage with you guys

Caption: Hermano .. Un honor para mi poder disfrutar a tu lado en el campo y ahora en el palco 😝 eres grande y eres mi ídolo! Te lo mereces una manita ✋🏽 @leomessi

Caption: President Dab! Grazie Juveeeee #BallonDor2015 #blessed #behindthescenes #dabteam

Caption: Gracias por todo, la mejor compañera y el mejor apoyo. ¡¡Te quiero, mi vida!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Thanks for everything, to the best companion and support. I love you, babe. @pilarrubio_oficial

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Caption: Día de recuperación! -196 grados 😬😱☃❄️ / Recovery day! -196 degrees 😬😱☃

Caption: Disfruten amigos, son grandes de verdad @leomessi y @neymarjr 👍👍👍👍👍!!!!!

Caption: Great evening with the boys at #NBALondon16