Magic Messi beats rival Ronaldo to land European Player of the Year award

01 December 2009 13:14
Lionel Messi has been awarded the prestigious Ballon d'Or after being recognised by journalists across the world as the best player of 2009.[LNB]The Barcelona and Argentina star succeeds Cristiano Ronaldo, who won the trophy last year after helping Manchester United to glory in the 2008 Champions League. Ronaldo finished runner-up this time around.[LNB] Absolutely flying: Barcelona star Lionel Messi (left)[LNB]EUROPE'S ELITE 101. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)3. Xavi (Barcelona)4. Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)5. Samuel Eto'o (Inter Milan)6. Kaka (Real Madrid)7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Barcelona)8. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)9. Didier Drogba (Chelsea)10. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) Messi polled 473 votes, more than double the number Ronaldo totalled(233) and 27 more than the impressive number the Portugueseinternational managed in winning last year's award. Ronaldo was theonly non-Barcelona player in the top four, with Xavi (170) and AndresIniesta (149) next in the list.[LNB]'There's lots of emotion - the Ballon d'Or is very important for me,'Messi told France Football. 'I know I appeared among the favouritesbecause Barcelona had a profitable year.[LNB]'For me it's a big honour to win - but also to become the first Argentinian in history to receive the trophy. I dedicate it to my family, they were always present when I needed them and sometimes felt even stronger emotions than me.'[LNB]Messi has been enjoying a fine year, particularly in the second halfof last season, when he won the Spanish League, Cup and European Cup.[LNB]Former Barca striker Samuel Eto'o - who also scored in last season's ChampionsLeague final, before moving to Inter Milan - was fifth on 75, 17 votes clear ofReal's former AC Milan playmaker Kaka.[LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB]Hall of fame: (Top row from left) Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o, Steven Gerrard; (middle row from left) Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Andres Iniesta, Kaka; (bottom row from left) Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Xavi[LNB]RECENT WINNERS1999 - Rivaldo (Brazil)2000 - Luis Figo (Portugal)2001 - Michael Owen (England)2002 - Ronaldo (Brazil)2003 - Pavel Nedved (Czech Republic)2004 - Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine)2005 - Ronaldinho (Brazil)2006 - Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)2007 - Kaka (Brazil)2008 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) Barcelona's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who moved to the Nou Camp in thedeal which took Eto'o to the San Siro in the summer, polled 50 forseventh, ahead of a quintet of English-based players.[LNB]Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney and Chelseaforward Didier Drogba were eighth and ninth, with Liverpool midfielderSteven Gerrard completing the top 10. [LNB]Messi, 22, had looked a runaway favourite for the award when in imperious form for Barca, though his recent underachievement in his country's World Cup qualifying campaign had raised some doubts.[LNB]Nonetheless, he has been awarded a title once known as the European Footballer of the Year, becoming the first Argentine to take the trophy home.[LNB]VIDEO: Highlights from Messi's magical year...[LNB][LNB] Barcelona star Lionel Messi is the hot favourite as 10 top stars are named on short list for Ballon d'OrForm is temporary, class is perm-anent! Messi is given Diego curlsVIDEO SPECIAL: After comic Bullard - 10 more iconic celebrationsTHE LIST: The best players to have never played in the World Cup - Nos 40-31[LNB]  Explore more:People:Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, Samuel Eto'o, Wayne Rooney, Andriy Shevchenko, Fabio Cannavaro, Lionel Messi, Zlatan IbrahimovicPlaces:Liverpool, Czech Republic, Argentina, United Kingdom, Portugal, Italy, Brazil

Source: Daily_Mail