Lionel Messi has claimed his third award at this year's FIFA Ballon d'Or. He beat teammate Xavi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo to claim this year's top footballing award. Messi, dressed in a stylish purple velvet suit, was gracious in victory thanking his family, friends, coaches, the Argentina national team, the Barcelona team and third placed Xavi.Messi went on to say "It is a great personal pleasure for me. It is an amazing honour. I want to thank everyone that has been involved with me, my team, team-mates, my trainer, the physios, my coach, everyone involved with me. It is a special trophy for me and I am going to share this success with Xavi. It is a pleasure to be here alongside him and to play with him."
The year saw Messi guide Barça to both a league title, a Club World Cup and a Champions League. Scoring 53 goals in the calendar year. This award means he joins Michel Platini as the only two players ever to win three consecutive Ballon d'Ors. He also joins Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten in the list of three time winners of the prestigious award.
Johan Cruyff had nothing but compliments for the Argentine forward. Quoted as saying he believed Messi would go on to win several more Ballon d'Or trophies. He also went on to add that he thinks the only reason Real Madrid are not dominating the football world is because they have to coexist with Barcelona.
But Messi wasn't the only Barcelona winner of the night. Team coach Pep Guardiola scooped the Coach of the Year award, holding off competition from Sir Alex Ferguson and José Mourinho. Guardiola helped Barcelona to five trophies in 2011. Including the league and Champions League.
Barcelona transfer target Neymar pipped Messi and Rooney to the FIFA Puskas award for best goal of 2011. The panel deciding his speedy dribble was more skillful then Rooney's overhead kick in the Manchester derby and Messi's crucial goal against Arsenal in the Champions League.
It was a sorry night for Barcelona's rivals Real Madrid as both Ronaldo and Mourinho were beaten to their respective trophy. An outcome Mourinho expected as both Ronaldo and the Madrid manager were not present at the ceremony, citing other commitments as their excuse. Madrid fans can take some pride away though as four of their players featured in the FIFA 2011 Team of the Year.
But the night was Messi's. He told the FC Barcelona website "It’s incredible. I want to dedicate this to all of my teammates. Like Guardiola said, if we don’t win anything collectively, we can’t hope to win individual awards.” Not forgetting his manners, Messi was quick to praise his teammate Xavi “I knew that if won that I would dedicate it to him. It’s the fourth year that we’re here together. He also deserves it, because he's even better each year and he also wins a lot of titles, like the World Cup last year. We have a friendship that goes beyond any award.”
Club president Sandro Rosell was also singing Messi's praises and crediting the hard work done at La Masia as a major factor in the club's and player's success. “As a Culé and as president, I’m very proud of all the awards that they’ve given us, but what I liked the most is how Guardiola and Messi shared their awards. These are the qualities that we teach at the Masia.”
Third placed Xavi was not bitter in defeat. Praising Messi and thanking him for the honour of being mentioned in the winning speech. “Messi and I are united by a great friendship. He’s timid and it’s difficult for him to express himself, for him to recognise me is worth more than any award. I’m the happiest man in the world.”
The awards were described best by team coach Pep Guardiola. He commented that award ceremonies are only positive after hard work. But there can be no better example then three time winner Lionel Messi and if he continues in the same way, that award shelf will need reinforcing.
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