Monday 7 January 2013

Messi wins FIFA player of the year

Messi wins FIFA player of the year

Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (C) receives the FIFA Ballon d'Or award from Italy's Fabio Cannavaro (C) and FIFA President Joseph Blatter during the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013.  AFP PHOTO

Barcelona and Argentina forward, Lionel Messi has won the 2012 FIFA Ballon d’Or . He beat Barcelona and Spanish midfielder, Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid and Portugal forward, Cristiano Ronaldo at the gala held at the Zurich Kongresshaus in Switzerland.

Even though Barcelona did not lift a major trophy in 2012 – the Copa del Rey aside – Lionel Messi continued to go from strength to strength, amassing goals and records along the way. His achievements in 2012 included becoming Barça’s  all-time leading goalscorer in official matches when he scored his 233rd goal on 20 March, breaking the record for the number of UEFA Champions League goals in a single season (14) and, with his 82 goals in all competitions, he edges ever closer to breaking the record held by the legendary Gerd Muller (85 goals).

The three-time Ballon d’Or winner was no less impressive for Argentina either, helping them dominate the South American FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Ballon d’Or 2012  Selection
A 23-man shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d’Or was compiled by the FIFA Football Committee and a group of experts from France Football. It was announced on 29 October.

Four days earlier, a ten-player shortlist was unveiled for the FIFA’s Women’s Player of the Year, which was chosen by experts from FIFA’s Committee for Women’s Football and the FIFA Women’s World Cup and a group of experts from France Football.

These have both been reduced to three players for each award, being announced on 29 November. You can read short profiles for each of the candidates below. From the final shortlists, journalists, national coaches and captains  voted for the winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or and the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year.

Complete list of the winners

FIFA Ballon d’Or: LIONEL MESSI

FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year: ABBY WAMBACH

FIFA Puskas Award: MIROSLAV STOCH

FIFA Coach of the Year: VICENTE DEL BOSQUE

FIFA Women’s Coach of the Year: PIA SUNDHAGE

FIFA / FIFPro World XI:

Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas

Defenders: Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta

Forwards: Lionel Messi, Radomel Falcao, Cristiano Ronaldo

FIFA Presidential Award: FRANZ BECKENBAUER

FIFA Fair Play Award: UZBEKISTAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION

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