ZURICH Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was crowned Monday as the best soccer player in the world for the third consecutive year.
Winning the FIFA Balón de Oro puts him among such greats as Dutchmen Johan Cruyff and Marco Vas Basten and French midfielder Michel Platini, who also have won three times.
Messi beat fellow Barcelona team member Xavi Hernández, who was a finalist in the last three years, and Real Madrid's forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who won in 2008.
Some 96 sports journalists from countries that participated in World Cup competition elected the best player. Messi, from Argentina, obtained 48 per cent of the votes, Ronaldo won 22 per cent and Hernández 9 per cent.
Messi had a dream year in 2011. He scored 55 goals, led Barcelona to five titles (Liga Española, Liga de Campeones, Supercopa de España, Supercopa de Europa and Mundial de Clubes) and scored in every final he played.
"Really, it's a great pleasure to be here once more," said Messi upon receiving the award in Zurich from Brazilian great Ronaldo Nazario, winner of the Balón de Oro in 1997 and 2002. "This is the third time I have been able to achieve this and it's a huge honor."
"Pulga" (flea), as he is nicknamed, thanked his teammates, "not only in Barcelona but in Argentina's national team. Without them I would not been able to win this award or the other ones."
But on this occasion, he mentioned teammate Hernández, FIFA's World Player in 2009, who once more left Zurich without the golden trophy.
"I want to dedicate this especially to my teammate and friend Xavi. This is the fourth time we have been here, and you too deserve this. It's a pleasure to be alongside you on and off the field. That's why I'm sharing this with you."
Messi has won the soccer world's greatest honor at the age of 24, with a lot of games still ahead of him.
editorial@sandiegored.com
