Lionel Messi has won the Fifa Ballon d'Or prize
for the best player of 2011, becoming only the fourth player in history
to win the trophy three times.
The Argentine forward, 24, beat Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona team-mate Xavi to the prize.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson won an award for
services to football, while Messi's boss Pep Guardiola was voted coach
of the year.
"I think [Messi] is going to break all the records that exist," said Xavi.
Messi, who previously won the prestigious accolade in 2009 and 2010,
was man of the match in Barca's 2011 Champions League final victory
over Manchester United and also won the Primera Division, Spanish
Supercopa, Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup last year.
Dutchmen Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten, plus Frenchman
Michael Platini, are the others to have won the award on three
occasions.
And Messi joined them after gaining 47.88% of votes in the survey among national team coaches, captains and selected media, with Ronaldo taking 21.6% and Xavi 9.23%.
"It's a great personal pleasure for me," said Messi.
"It's the third time I've won it. It's just an amazing honour. I want
to thank everyone that's been involved with me - my team-mates,
trainers, physios, the coach and everyone at Barcelona.
"I'd also like to thank the Argentina national team as well."
Messi's Barcelona team-mate Xavi paid tribute to the winner:
"He's still young, only 24. He's going to be one of the best footballers
in the history of the sport."
Ferguson, 70, received the presidential award from Sepp
Blatter after leading United to their 19th English championship, the
12th of the Scot's reign.
He said: "I have been a very, very lucky manager to have had
so many good players who have shared my vision and passion, and that's
what makes Manchester United such a special club.
"They retain the courage to play, the courage to try and win."
Brazilian 19-year-old Neymar beat Manchester United's Wayne Rooney
and Messi to win the Fifa Puskas award for the best goal of 2011.
The Santos forward scored a dazzling solo goal against
Flamengo in the Brazilian championship, pipping Rooney's overhead kick
against Manchester City and Messi's Champions League strike against
Arsenal.
Other awards went to Japan's women's World Cup-winning
captain Homare Sawa for the women's player of the year, while the
Japanese manager Norio Sasaki earned his coach of |