Messi wins World Player of the Year award
Published:Monday | December 21, 2009 | 6:08 PM
Lionel Messi claimed the World Player of the Year award today to nearly complete his collection of football\'s greatest honors.
Messi tacked on the prestigious award to his growing list of accolades at a FIFA gala ceremony in Zurich, easily outdistancing the last two winners, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, along with his Barcelona teammates Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta in voting among national team captains and coaches.
It caps a perfect year for the winger, who won an unprecedented triple title with Barcelona, the Spanish league and cup, and the Champions League, and received the Ballon D\'Or as the best player in Europe.
He also sealed Barcelona\'s first Club World Cup on Saturday with an extra-time goal to beat Estudiantes 2-1.
All that eludes the 22-year-old Argentine now is a World Cup title.
Messi scored 38 goals in 51 matches in all competitions during 2008-2009 season, and has continued with 15 goals in 22 games this campaign as Barcelona have surged to the top of La Liga and back to the Champions League knockout phase.
The women\'s award went to Brazil\'s Marta for the fourth year in a row. The 23-year-old playmaker beat teammate Cristiane, Kelly Smith of England, and Germans Birgit Prinz and Inka Grings.