Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi yesterday was crowned the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or. He has therefore claimed the title of world player of the year for the third consecutive time.
Messi beat Barcelona team-mate Xavi Hernandez and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo to emerge the best footballer in the world from the final three-man shortlist. The crowning ceremony took place at the Kongresshaus in Zurich.
The 24-year-old is now the fourth player in history to win the trophy three times, along with Dutch legends Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten, plus Frenchman Michael Platini.
The Ballon d’Or award caps a hugely successful year in which Messi won the Spanish Liga title, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said Messi deserved to be ranked among the all-time greats. “I would agree with that completely,’’ Ferguson said. “Critics have always questioned whether players like Pele from the 50s could play today.
“The answer to that is great players would play in any generation. Lionel Messi could play in the 1950s and the present day, as could Di Stefano, Pele, Maradona, Cruyff because they are all great players. Lionel Messi without question fits into that category.’’
Xavi supported Ferguson’s view, saying: “He’s still young, only 24, and I think he’s going to break all the records that exist in this sport. He’s going to be one of the best footballers in the history of the sport.’’
Pep Guardiola was named the FIFA Men’s Football Coach of the Year, finishing ahead of Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho. Neymar claimed the FIFA Puskas Award for the year’s best goal, his fine solo effort against Flamengo voted above Wayne Rooney’s overhead kick in the Manchester derby and Messi’s strike against Arsenal in the second round of the Champions League.