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Ballon d'Or prize for Messi

01 Dec 2009 - 08:02:11

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Lionel Messi has been named Europe's number one player after winning the prestigious Ballon d'Or award.

The Argentina and Barcelona star beat last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo to the annual accolade, which is organised by France Football magazine.

The 22-year-old is the latest in a long line of Barcelona players to win the accolade after helping the Spanish giants to a domestic league, cup and Champions League treble last season.

Ronaldinho was the last and fifth Barca player to be honoured in 2005, with Messi the first-ever Argentinian to triumph.

Messi ended last season as the top scorer in the Champions League and found the net in his side's 2-0 victory over Manchester United in the final.

"There's lots of emotion - the Ballon d'Or is very important for me," Messi told France Football.

"I know I appeared among the favourites because Barcelona had a profitable year.

"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."

Messi received more than twice as many votes as Real Madrid forward Ronaldo, with Barcelona team-mates Xavi and Andres Iniesta third and fourth respectively.

Manchester United and striker Wayne Rooney and Chelsea's Didier Drogba were the highest ranked Premier League players after finishing eighth and ninth in the voting respectively.