Barcelona’s Lionel Messi created history today as he was awarded the FIFA Ballon d’Or for a fourth consecutive time.
Messi won the FIFA Ballon d’Or comfortably, polling 41.60% of the votes, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo on 23.68% and Andrés Iniesta on 10.91%.
The Barca magician, became the first player ever to have won the World Player of the Year without leading his team or country to a trophy.
Messi won the award on his incredible goal scoring prowess. He scored over 90 goals last year for club and country and also finished top scorer in the Champions League with 14 goals.
An emotional Messi thanked his Barca teammates in his acceptance speech saying:
“To tell you the truth this is really quite unbelievable. The fourth award that I have had is just too great for words,” Messi said in Spanish, wearing a black tuxedo jacket with a white-spotted pattern in an unexpectedly flamboyant touch.
“I would like to recognize my other colleagues from Barcelona: Iniesta it has been great to train and play alongside you. I would also like to recognise all of my friends in the Argentinian national team.
“Everyone that has worked with me coaches and staff and my family and my friends. “Also my wife and my son. Thank you.”