Messi rules the soccer world

Dec 22, 2009

Lionel Messi became the first Argentine to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award on Monday.

Lionel Messi became the first Argentine to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award on Monday.

The 22-year-old forward, who also landed the European Footballer of the Year prize earlier this month, picked up the accolade after collecting four major titles with Barcelona –– the Champions League, the Club World Cup, La Liga and the King’s Cup.

“This finishes a magnificent year for Barcelona, my team mates and for me,” said Messi after receiving the trophy from UEFA president Michel Platini.

The Argentine, who joined Barcelona as a 13-year-old in 2000, claimed 1,073 points in a poll of 147 national team coaches and captains.

Portugal and Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo, last year’s winner, was a distant second with 352 points followed by Spain and Barcelona midfielder Xavi (196).

Messi was leading scorer in the 2008-09 Champions League, hitting nine goals including one in the 2-0 final win over Manchester United.

He also notched the extra-time winner in the 2-1 Club World Cup final victory over Estudiantes in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Messi’s vote appeared to be largely entirely based on his club form as his performances for Argentina were largely disappointing.

Argentina struggled to qualify for the World Cup and their results this year included a 6-1 hammering in Bolivia and defeats by Paraguay and Ecuador.

Before the ceremony, Messi told reporters he could not explain why he failed to perform at the same level for his country.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I try to do the same as I do for Barcelona. But the World Cup qualifiers are complicated, sometimes it’s difficult to play and it was a big effort for us to qualify.”

Brazilian Marta won the Women’s World Player of the Year for a record fourth consecutive time, beating off competition from England striker Kelly Smith.

Cristiano Ronaldo won the inaugural Fifa Puskas Award for the best goal of the year for his stunning 40-yard strike while playing for Manchester United against FC Porto in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in April.

The FIFA award was introduced in 1991.

FIFPro team of the year: I. Casillas; Dani Alves, P. Evra, J. Terry, N. Vidic; Xavi, A. Iniesta, S. Gerrard; C. Ronaldo, L. Messi and F. Torres.

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Winners since 1991:
1991 - L. Matthaeus (Germany)
1992 - Van Basten (Netherlands)
1993 - R. Baggio (Italy)
1994 - Romario (Brazil)
1995 - G. Weah (Liberia)
1996 - Ronaldo (Brazil)
1997 - Ronaldo
1998 - Z. Zidane (France)
1999 - Rivaldo (Brazil)
2000 - Zidane
2001 - L. Figo (Portugal)
2002 - Ronaldo
2003 - Zidane
2004 - Ronaldinho (Brazil)
2005 - Ronaldinho
2006 - F. Cannavaro (Italy)
2007 - Kaka (Brazil)
2008 - C. Ronaldo (Portugal)
2009 - L. Messi (Argentina)

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