Rappy Veteran Posted December 21, 2009 Veteran Share Posted December 21, 2009 Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been named Fifa World Footballer of the Year to complete a stunning 2009 for the Argentine forward. The 22-year-old, who helped Barca win the Club World Cup on Saturday - their sixth trophy of the year - also won the Ballon d'Or award this year. "A magnificent year for me and Barca has ended in the best way," said Messi. He beat off competition from last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi, Kaka and Andres Iniesta. In a vote by captains and head coaches of the men's and women's national teams, Messi won 1,073 votes, Ronaldo 352, Xavi 196, Kaka 190 and Iniesta 134. Messi becomes the first Argentine to win the award, which was inaugurated in 1991, and it completes a stunning year for the brilliant winger. He helped Barca to an unprecedented treble of Champions League, La Liga and Spanish Cup last season, scoring the second goal in their 2-0 win over Manchester United in Rome in May. This season the Catalan club have added the Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup and Club World Cup to their roll of honour, beating Argentine side Estudiantes in Abu Dhabi to complete a stellar year. At the start of the month, Messi beat Ronaldo to the European Footballer of the Year award by a massive margin - 473 points to 233 - and has now succeeded Ronaldo to win the Fifa award too. However, Messi has played down the attention, saying: "No, please, I am not king of the world now, nor the number one, I don't believe in those things. "I am the same person as always and I have the good fortune to play in a great team. It was an historic year for Barca and for me but it's thanks to the work of everyone." At a glittering gala at the Zurich Kongresshaus, England stars John Terry and Steven Gerrard were named in the FIFPro World XI, voted for by their fellow professionals. Fellow Premier League stars Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic and Fernando Torres were also picked, along with former Manchester United star Ronaldo. FIFPro team of the year: Casillas; Dani Alves, Evra, Terry, Vidic; Xavi, Iniesta, Gerrard; Ronaldo, Messi, Torres. BBC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nokiaxion Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been named Fifa World Footballer of the Year to complete a stunning 2009 for the Argentine forward.Messi becomes the first Argentine to win the award, which was inaugurated in 1991, and it completes a stunning year for the brilliant winger. Rappy this isnt intended towards you :) but its a subject Id like to debate with other members. In my opinion, he is a winger that can play also as a center forward or as a second forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rappy Veteran Posted December 21, 2009 Author Veteran Share Posted December 21, 2009 Rappy this isnt intended towards you :) but its a subject Id like to debate with other members.In my opinion, he is a winger that can play also as a center forward or as a second forward. :p I actually agree with you, I don't really see him as a forward Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hierophant Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Well deserved. He had a sick year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WastedJoker Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Fletcher should've been in the FIFPro team ahead of Gerrard, tbf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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