Sports / Soccer
Messi wins fourth Ballon d'Or
07 Jan 2013 at 20:01hrs | Views
Zurich - Barcelona and Argentina striker Lionel Messi won an unprecedented fourth Ballon d'Or at a FIFA gala here on Monday.
The 25-year-old, who scored an all-time record 91 goals last year, saw off Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta as he captured the award for the fourth straight year.
Spain handler Vicente del Bosque was on Monday named coach of the year for 2012, seeing off competition from Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho and former Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola at a FIFA gala in Zurich.
World and European champion Del Bosque won the honour for the first time having lost out to Mourinho two years earlier.
"It is an honour to represent Spanish football and the Spanish national side," said Del Bosque.
"I thank all the players - they make us (the coaches) better."
Six Spaniards meanwhile made the team of the year for 2012 unveiled at a FIFA gala in Zurich on Monday, while of the 11 selected, Barcelona and Real Madrid provided five each.
The 'Dream Team' as selected by FIFPro, the players' union, saw Atletico Madrid's Colombian striker Radamel Falcao the only player to play for another club selected as La Liga made a clean sweep.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas made it despite being recently dropped by his club, marshalling a defence comprising Brazilians Dani Alves of Barca and Real's Marcelo with Real's Sergio Ramos and the Catalan club's Gerard Pique in central defence.
Barca and Spain pair Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta were selected in midfield along with Real Madrid strongman Xabi Alonso, with Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, Ballon d'Or rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Falcao in a three-pronged attack.
Spain had six players in the 2011 line-up while Barca had five and Real four.
The 25-year-old, who scored an all-time record 91 goals last year, saw off Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta as he captured the award for the fourth straight year.
Spain handler Vicente del Bosque was on Monday named coach of the year for 2012, seeing off competition from Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho and former Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola at a FIFA gala in Zurich.
World and European champion Del Bosque won the honour for the first time having lost out to Mourinho two years earlier.
"It is an honour to represent Spanish football and the Spanish national side," said Del Bosque.
"I thank all the players - they make us (the coaches) better."
Six Spaniards meanwhile made the team of the year for 2012 unveiled at a FIFA gala in Zurich on Monday, while of the 11 selected, Barcelona and Real Madrid provided five each.
The 'Dream Team' as selected by FIFPro, the players' union, saw Atletico Madrid's Colombian striker Radamel Falcao the only player to play for another club selected as La Liga made a clean sweep.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas made it despite being recently dropped by his club, marshalling a defence comprising Brazilians Dani Alves of Barca and Real's Marcelo with Real's Sergio Ramos and the Catalan club's Gerard Pique in central defence.
Barca and Spain pair Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta were selected in midfield along with Real Madrid strongman Xabi Alonso, with Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, Ballon d'Or rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Falcao in a three-pronged attack.
Spain had six players in the 2011 line-up while Barca had five and Real four.
Source - sports
