MESSI LANDS FOURTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

January 7, 2013

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has claimed the 2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or award after he netted 91 goals to break the record for goals scored in a calendar year.

Messi, 25, beat team-mate Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo to the prize.

It was a record fourth successive trophy for the Argentina star, who won both the FIFA World Player of the Year and the Ballon d'Or in 2009 before then claiming the FIFA Ballon d'Or in 2010 and 2011 when the two prizes were merged.

An emotional Messi said it was "unbelievable" and thanked everyone who had helped him reach the pinnacle of his profession as he picked up the trophy in Monday night's gala awards ceremony at Zurich's Kongresshaus.

"To tell you the truth this is really quite unbelievable," Messi said. "The fourth award that I have won is just too great for words. I want to remember my team-mates at Barcelona, especially Andres. It is with great pride that I am beside you today and that you play and train with us.

"(I also want to thank) my team-mates with Argentina, my colleagues who voted for me, the captains and coaches, my family, my friends, and lastly and most especially my wife and my son. Thanks very much."

Messi polled 41.60% of the votes, with Ronaldo taking 23.68% and Iniesta 10.91%.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque claimed the FIFA Coach of the Year award.

Del Bosque said he was proud to represent all of Spanish football after seeing off competition from ex-Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho to claim the award for the first time.

The FIFPRO XI award also proved a major success for the Spanish game, with the entire selection coming from La Liga, with all but one of the players selected coming from Barcelona or Real Madrid.

FIFPRO XI: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid and Spain); Dani Alves (Barcelona and Brazil), Gerard Pique (Barcelona and Spain), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid and Spain), Marcelo (Real Madrid and Brazil); Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid and Spain), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona and Spain), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona and Spain); Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina), Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid and Colombia), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Portugal).