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Brazilian, Marta and Argentinian, Lionel Messi - World Player of the Year - Female and Male

Lionel Messi became the first Argentine to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award on Monday. He was presented with the trophy at a glittering awards gala in Zurich.

European Footballer of the Year

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

Champions League Final

Lionel Messi, who headed the clinching goal against Manchester United in the Champions League final, also scored on Saturday to secure the FIFA Club World Cup for Barcelona against Estudiantes.

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.

Messi beat last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo, his two Barcelona clubmates Andres Iniesta and Xavi and Brazil midfielder Kaka.

FIFA/FIFPro World XI

Meanwhile, Messi’s team-mates Daniel Alves, Xavi and Iniesta were among those named in the FIFA/FIFPro World XI.
The XI, voted for by members of the international professional footballers’ union – FIFPro chosen by over 50,000 professional football players from all over the world, voting for the best player in each position, were: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), John Terry (Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd), Patrice Evra (Man Utd), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Fernando Torres (Liverpool).

Ronaldo

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