Lionel Messi awarded world’s best player by FIFA
Lionel Messi has been bestowed with the FIFA's Ballon d'Or award on Jan 10 as the world's best player of 2010. The 23-year old plays as a forward for Argentina and Barcelona.
Out of the shortlisted 23 players, Messi alone received more than 22 per cent of the votes cast by coaches, captains of national teams and journalists. Speaking through a translator, he said, "I didn't expect to win it today," and added, "Already it's a source of happiness to be here with my friends and even more to win it."
The Argentine forward scored 58 goals to help Barcelona win the Spanish league title. Barcelona, the Spanish football club has now provided eight winners for the coveted award.
For this year, FIFA merged its world player award with the Ballon d'Or trophy - presented to the best player in Europe by France Football magazine since 1956.