Lionel Messi won a
record-breaking fourth consecutive FIFA Ballon d'Or at an awards ceremony in
Zurich.
The 25-year-old Argentinian took the honour ahead of Barcelona
team-mate Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi enjoyed a remarkable 2012 even by his own high standards,
most notably surpassing Gerd Muller's 40-year-old record of 85 goals in a
calendar year, finishing with an incredible 91.
Messi said: 'To tell you the
truth this is really quite unbelievable. The fourth award that I have had is
just too great for words. 'I would like to recognise my other colleagues from Barcelona;
Andres it has been great to train and play alongside you.
'I would also like to recognise
all of my friends in the Argentinian national team, everyone that has worked
with me, coaches and staff and my family and my friends. Also my wife and my
son. Thank you.
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| Messi with fourth Ballon d'Or with Sepp Blater |
Messi said: 'To tell you the truth this is really quite
unbelievable. The fourth award that I have had is just too great for words.
Speaking at the pre-gala press conference, Messi claimed he did
not consider 2012 his best year yet.
He said: 'I'm more interested in team awards than I am about what
I might win individually. There have been years where we won more titles that
have been better.'
Messi's team-mates and rivals paid tribute to him.
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| Messi with fourth Ballon d'Or |
Barca midfielder Cesc Fabregas wrote on Twitter: 'Congratulations
Leo, forth time as the best player of £ballondor, you deserve it. And also to
@andresiniesta8, huge to be there.'
Argentina team-mate Sergio Aguero simply Tweeted: 'Messi, Messi,
Messi, Messi.'
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand Tweeted: "Congrats
to Messi! Wow,4 yrs in a row!! Messi has added something else to his list of
'the only person to....' #isMessiTheBestOfAllTime ??'
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| Ronaldo Iniesta and Messi |
Fenerbahce's Miroslav Stoch won the FIFA Puskas Award for
goal of the year, Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque was named World Coach of the
Year and United States international Abby Wambach won Women's World Player of
the Year.
The FIFPro World XI was named up entirely of players based in
Spain with Barcelona's Dani Alves, Gerard Pique and Xavi, Real Madrid's Iker
Casillas, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso and Atletico Madrid's Radamel
Falcao joining the three Ballon d'Or nominees in the team.
Franz Beckenbauer received the FIFA Presidential Award.
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