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Messi edges off Real's Ronaldo to win third straight Ballon d'Or
Source: Xinhua |
January 10, 2012, Tuesday
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LIONEL Messi won the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or, the prestigious award for the world's outstanding footballer, for the third straight time at a star-studded ceremony in Zurich yesterday.
The 24-year-old Barcelona and Argentina forward finished ahead of his Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Barca teammate Xavi.
In 2011, Messi scored 59 goals in 70 club games for Barcelona. It was a figure bettered only by Cristiano Ronaldo with 60, but Messi also contributed 37 assists to the Portuguese's 21.
Only Michel Platini had previously won the Ballon d'Or for three years running and Messi now belongs to an elite group also featuring Dutch legends Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten to have been honored with the award on three occasions.
"Messi will be the player to win the most Ballons d'Or in history," predicts Cruyff.
"He will win five, six, seven. He is incomparable. He's in a different league."
Messi netted twice in Barca's semifinal defeat of Ronaldo's Real Madrid and found the target against Manchester United in the final at Wembley.
Barcelona's trophy haul in 2011 meant that Messi now has three Champions League winners' medals and five La Liga crowns to his name.
He has also won the FIFA Club World Cup twice and it is a matter of time until he surpasses Cesar Rodriguez' record of 235 goals for his club.
The 24-year-old Barcelona and Argentina forward finished ahead of his Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Barca teammate Xavi.
In 2011, Messi scored 59 goals in 70 club games for Barcelona. It was a figure bettered only by Cristiano Ronaldo with 60, but Messi also contributed 37 assists to the Portuguese's 21.
Only Michel Platini had previously won the Ballon d'Or for three years running and Messi now belongs to an elite group also featuring Dutch legends Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten to have been honored with the award on three occasions.
"Messi will be the player to win the most Ballons d'Or in history," predicts Cruyff.
"He will win five, six, seven. He is incomparable. He's in a different league."
Messi netted twice in Barca's semifinal defeat of Ronaldo's Real Madrid and found the target against Manchester United in the final at Wembley.
Barcelona's trophy haul in 2011 meant that Messi now has three Champions League winners' medals and five La Liga crowns to his name.
He has also won the FIFA Club World Cup twice and it is a matter of time until he surpasses Cesar Rodriguez' record of 235 goals for his club.
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