ZURICH - Argentina's Lionel Messi, still only 25, was named the world's best player for an unprecedented fourth year running on Monday.
The award, officially known as the FIFA Ballon d'Or, came after the Barcelona player scored a remarkable 91 goals in 2012, a record for a calendar year.
Lionel Messi of Argentina, FIFA World Player of the Year 2012 smiles as he holds his FIFA Ballon d'Or trophy during the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2012 soccer awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich January 7, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]
Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo was second, the third time the 2008 winner has finished runner-up, and Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta was third as Spain again missed out.
Despite dominating international football for the last four years, no Spanish player has won the award.
"It's incredible to win a fourth in a row, amazing," said Messi. "I want to share this with my Barcelona team mates and my Argentina team mates."
Although Messi did not have an outstanding year in terms of Barcelona titles, missing out on the Champions League and La Liga, he enjoyed a resurgence of form with Argentina, scoring 12 goals including his first two international hat-tricks.
Spain's Vicente del Bosque was voted as coach of the year for the first time after his team won Euro 2012, holding off Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho and former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.
"I want to remember all the coaches I had in my career who all encourage me to become a coach," he said before appealing to his fellow coaches and players for better behaviour.
"I think everyone in football, we all feel this fascination for the game, we want the same but we want to defend football, to take care of it and behave with the highest ethics and best personal conduct."
Messi was voted FIFA Player of the Year in 2009 before picking up the new-look award in 2010 and 2011 after it was fused with the Ballon d'Or award previously handed out by France Football magazine.
Brazilian Ronaldo and Frenchman Zinedine Zidane both won the old FIFA award three times, although neither did so in successive years, while Michel Platini won the France Football award three times successively in the 1980s.
The team of the year featured Iker Casillas in goal, Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos and Marcelo, in defence, Xabi Alonsi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta in midfield and Messi, Radamel Falcao and Cristiano Ronaldo in attack
The best goal of the year was given to Slovakian forward Miroslav Stoch for his effort for Fenerbahce against Genclerbirligi in a Turkish Super League match, hooking the ball into the goal from the edge of the penalty area.
Former West Germany captain and coach Franz Beckenbauer was given the presidential award for outstanding service to football.
Abby Wambach became the first American since 2002 to win the women's Player of the Year award. Swede Pia Sundhage, who led the United States to the gold medal at the Olympic Games, was named coach of the year for women's football.
Uzbekistan won the fair play award for their overall record in Asian competitions.
FIFA 2012 Ballon d'Or award
List of FIFA award winners
Following is the list of FIFA's 2012 award winners, which was announced here on Monday: Full story>>
Messi crowned Player of Year for fourth time
FIFA Men's World Player of the Year 2012 nominee, Argentina's Lionel Messi attends a news conference before the FIFA 2012 Ballon d'Or award ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland, on Jan. 7, 2013. Full story>>
Messi, Ronaldo, Iniesta finalists in FIFA Ballon d' Or
The countdown is on to the next stage of the Champions League and is also on to the handing out of the 2012 Ballon d’Or, awarded to the player of the year. Full story>>
Messi frenzy prevails among fans
You can’t think of Barcelona Football Club without thinking about lionel Messi. His name has become synonymous with the club and the city. Full story>>
Messi frenzy
2012: Fruitful year for Lionel Messi
The year of 2012 couldn’t be more memorable for Argentine football super star Lionel Messi. The Barcelona striker wrapped up the whole season with 91 goals, the most scored by anyone in history in a single calendar year. Full story>>
Messi gets his kicks setting records in 2012
2012 couldn’t be more memorable for Argentine football super star Lionel Messi. The Barcelona striker wrapped up the season with a record 91 goals in a single calendar year. He also welcomed the arrival of his first son. Full strory>>
Messi scores 91st goal, Barca rout Valladolid
The match came to a climax in the 59th minute, when Messi doubled Barca’s lead for his 91st goal of this calender year. Look at his trademark run and finish. Full strory>>
Messi breaks record with 86th goal of year
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi set a record for goals scored in a calendar year of 86 when he netted his second in a La Liga game at Real Betis on Sunday, beating Gerd Mueller's 40-year-old record of 85. Full story>>
Messi sets new calender year goal mark
That is 86 on the year, as the Argentine magician sets a new world football mark for a calender year. A brilliant 2012 for Messi, capped off by him re-writing the record books. Full story>>
Messi tries to add to goal record
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi reached another milestone in his phenomenal career on Sunday when he set a record for goals scored in a calendar year with 86, beating Gerd Mueller’s 40-year-old tally of 85. But the Barcelona star said he would not stop there. Full story>>
Reputation deserved
Messi will lead Barca to face Cordoba
Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova says his star and World Player of the Year Lionel Messi is as motivated as ever as his team face second division Cordoba in their King’s Cup last 16 first leg match on Wednesday. Full story>>
Messi scores twice, Barca beat Cordoba
Barcelona took a strong side to second division Cordoba, including scoring superstar Lionel Messi, who would also be the play-maker of the day for a Spanish Cup first leg last 16 clash on Wednesday. Full story>>
Barcelona extend Messi, Xavi, Puyol
La Liga giants Barcelona have announced they will be locking up three of their key players to new contracts, including superstar striker Lionel Messi. Barca has gotten Messi, along with Xavi and Carles Puyol to all agree to new deals, not as if they needed much convincing one would think. Full story>>
中国公共新闻摘编:GAN JADE |