Zurich, Dec 22 (DPA) Barcelona’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi, who earlier this month won the European Footballer of the Year, was Monday named FIFA World Footballer of the Year 2009.
Messi, who made history by becoming the first Argentine player to win the award, beat off the other finalists Kaka, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and last year’s winner, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The award, which was presented at a ceremony in Zurich Monday evening, crowned an exceptional season for the 22-year-old, during which he won the Champions League, as well as the Spanish double and on the weekend he added the world club cup to his list of titles.
In front of the who’s who of international football, Messi thanked his team-mates when accepting the award. “What can I say. I would like to thank everybody. All of my colleagues, everybody who has been involved all over the last years.
“It is an award for us all to celebrate. For without all those around me it would simply not be possible to win this award.”
Messi picked up 1,073 points from managers and captains of the world’s national teams, comfortably edging out Ronaldo, who had 353 points and Xavi, who had 196 points.
Brazilian Marta won the women’s award for a record-breaking fourth time in a row, beating team-mate Cristiane, England’s Kelly Smith as well as Germans Inka Grings and Birgit Prinz for the title.
Marta, who is back in Brazil playing for Santos on loan from American club Los Angeles Sol, said that she never expected to win the award for a fourth time.
“For me the greatest pleasure is to play football and I would like to thank everybody who has been involved with me – not forgetting my family.
“All these people have always been by my side. This award is as much for them as for me, for without them I would not be here and I owe them a great depth of gratitude.”
She said that she considered it as very special to win four times in a row. “But I accept it for women’s football in general,” she said.
The FIFA Presidential award went to the Queen of Jordan, Rania Al- Abdullah, who spearheads the One Goal – Education For All programme.
FIFA President Joseph Blatter said that the work that she does proves that football can contribute towards a better world if they work together.
“You are this programme and I am proud that FIFA is a part of this wonderful work,” Blatter said.
FIFA also made two new awards: the FIFA Puskas Award, which was named in honour of the Hungarian legend, was given for the most beautiful goal, while the FIFA/FIFPro World XI was for the 11 best players of the world.
Ronaldo won the Puskas award for his goal for Manchester United in the Champions League against Porto, while the following were elected into the FIFA/FIPro World XI:
Goalkeeper: Iker Cassilas (Real Madrid/Spain)
Defenders: John Terry (Chelsea/England), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United/Serbia), Patrice Evra (Manchester United/France) and Dani Alves (Barcelona/Spain)
Midfielders: Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona/Spain); Andres Iniesta (Barcelona/Spain), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool/England)
Forwards: and Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/Spain) and Fernando Torres (Liverpool/Spain).
rounak