Lionel Messi wins the 2012 FIFA Ballon d’Or (Four straight times, 2009,2010,2011,2012)

[naija2day]

Lionel Messi was awarded the FIFA Ballon d'Or for the fourth successive year.

Barcelona's 25-year-old Argentina striker beat team-mate Iniesta and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo to the title of the world's best player.

The Barcelona genius takes on team-mate Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in this year's competition for the golden ball.

Earlier, Spanish football swept the board in an all-La Liga FIFA/FIFPro World XI.

Not a single Premier League player was named in the champion line-up.

FIFA/FIFPRO WORLD XI: Casillas, Alves, Pique, Ramos, Marcelo, Xavi, Alonso, Iniesta, Messi, Ronaldo, Falcao.

Meanwhile, Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque landed the Coach of the Year award.

Del Bosque led Spain to their second straight European Championship in Poland and Ukraine last year.

He said: "It is a great privilege to be involved with the Spanish Football Federation, the technical staff and coaches."

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