Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was awarded the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or on Monday, making the Argentinian the first player since Michel Platini to win football's top award for three years running.
Argentinian football star Lionel Messi could win the coveted Ballon d'Or for the third year in a row after he was named on a three-man shortlist Monday. His Barcelona team mate Xavi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo were also shortlisted.
Argentina forward Lionel Messi has won the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or, which rewards the best football player of the year. Messi defeated Barcelona teammates Andres Iniesta and Xavi Fernandez, who were favoured to take the coveted award.
More than half our readers would like to see Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi receive a second Ballon d'or tonight in Zurich, ahead of World Cup winners Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta of Spain.
Who of Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and last year's laureate Lionel Messi is your pick for the 2010 Ballon d'Or? Give us your winner ahead of Monday's vote in Zurich.
This year's Ballon d'Or shortlist is dominated by seven players from Spain's winning World Cup team. No French, English or Italian players made it onto the list.
There will be no disputing who is the world's best footballer starting next year, now that FIFA has agreed to combine its World Player of the Year prize with the prestigious Ballon d'Or awarded by French magazine France Football.
Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, who plays for Barcelona FC, has received the Ballon d'Or 2009 award as the best Europe-based footballer of the year. The award was voted on by journalists from across the world.
The ten finalists for the Ballon d'Or, or European footballer of the year, award have been named, and no fewer than four of them play for Barcelona. Tell us who is your favorite player.
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