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Messi named Player of the Year as FIFA hands out awards

Lionel Messi 1 (Getty Images)

by FRANCO PANIZO

From an individual stand-point, Lionel Messi has enjoyed a dream year, helping Barcelona win an unprecedented six trophies, and those achievements helped earn him the ultimate individual award.

Messi was named the FIFA World Player of the Year on Monday, just two days after scoring the game-winning goal in the FIFA Club World Cup final. Messi, who has impressed soccer spectators all year long with his precise dribbling and superb finishing, received the award at a ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland.

The 22-year-old won the award ahead of Kaka, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and 2008's winner, Cristiano Ronaldo. Save for Kaka, all the finalists made the year's best XI.

The XI, which is voted on by members of FIFPro, consists of Iker Casillas, Daniel Alves, John Terry, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Steven Gerrard, Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres and Lionel Messi.

Brazilian star Marta was also named the FIFA women's player of the year for a fourth consecutive time at the ceremony.

What do you think about Messi being named player of the year? Think someone else was more deserving? What Messi moment from this year was your favorite? Agree with the best XI?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. when was the last time anyone in the German league did anything noteable? and Italy? they’re all pretty much old and can barely move, and they’re not too fond of young players who can actually play (Giovinco at Juventus). The only two players who really performed in Italy last year were Maicon and Ibrahimovic. Ibra is at Barca now and Alves won more trophies than Maicon (This list is not about ability). And as an LFC fan, it had to be Gerrard. Think about the number of times last year he had to carry the team on his back? Alonso was superb, but there’s a reason why stevie is captain fantastic. And Lampard? please. If he wasn’t playing for Chelsea he would hardly matter. If it wasn’t Gerrard, I’d say maybe Diego.

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  2. also as a Liverpool fan, yes there are a few of us left after saturday, kind of surprised to see Captain Fantastic on there. He was superb last calender year, but the Liverpool fans POY last year was Xabi Alonso. Then again when trying to find someone else as deserving for Stevie G’s spot I couldnt think of anyone. Any suggestions. I was thinking Lamps but Chelsea would be fine without him. if Stevie G is taken away from Liverpool i think they would struggle for Europa league. as it turns out, theyre doing just that with him Its funny because its so sad. SMH.

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  3. Sergio Ramos? Dont think so. The guy is played his way into a backup role under Pellegrini. He is stuck behind Arbeloa at right back and Arbeloa. He has no concept of timing when getting forward and doesnt retreat when the ball is lost. It took a injury by Pepe for him to even sniff the starting XI. Ramos has been trending down ever since his dismal Confed Cup showing. Also I hear he is a bit of a diva in the changin room. Entourages and ego. If he gets his head on str8 he could be the best back in the world, period. he has all the tools except the mental. And Puyol? Please. If he wasnt a Barca academy graduate he wouldve been gone a long time ago. Twice the heart than skill. Sort of like the Spanish frankie Hejduk. No defender from Barca should make this list(Dani Alves over Maicon?) Its their only weakness. Also, what a shock, read: not a shock, that everyone on the list is EPL or La Liga. Do they even have leagues in Italy or Germany anymore. i cant tell

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  4. If you payed attention in the confederations cup, It was kinda up for grabs at first. I wouldn’t say that maicon is always starting above him, but I would agree that this vote is definitely biased towards barcelona. Even though i personally think alves is better.

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  5. I would actually probably say the opposite of what you are implying. I would say that xavi is barcelona’s best player, but because of iniesta and age I would say that messi is more valuable. Just my opinion.

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  6. i kinda agree, but messi scored in 5 of the 6 finals it won this past yr., not to mention he scored against man u in the finals and the game winner on saturday, pretty damn impressive.

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  7. I think these contests are always biased towards more successful teams and flash. Those of us that watched Barcelona-Chelsea know that Dani Alves was awful, but he’s a swashbuckler, gets goals and assists, and plays for a side that won 6 trophies.

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  8. He is a beast. Small, fast, strong. Him and Ashley Cole are one in the same, but I give him the nod since Ashley Cole is a cry baby (and I support Arsenal).

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  9. Danny Alves makes the XI but Maicon, who starts in front of him for the best team in the world, Brazil, doesn’t? Am I the only one who thinks this is retarded and a bit biased to Catalan residents?

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  10. Well, if it hadn’t have been for a wonderstrike from Iniesta, the storyline might be completely flipped into “Why can’t Messi score against English teams? Why can’t Barcelona punch with the boys from the Prem?”

    I hate this idea of ranking players over another, is a striker’s output easily compared to a defender’s output? I don’t think so. But these contests usually reward goals and flashy play, understandably. I have no problem, none, with Messi having this award. I just think the contributions of his teammates, particularly the teammate I mentioned, are overlooked.

    That’s all.

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  11. who’s better than him, though? Ashley Cole? Clichy? Arbeloa? Abidal? Lahm? i dont see one that truly dominates the way, say, Maicon does at right back.

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  12. Opinion poll time: Am I the only one that is completely baffled by all the love that Patrice Evra gets? He is a decent player but in all honesty he would not even come up on my list of the best left backs in the world.

    So what am I missing that everyone else seems to see in his game?

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  13. Messi for player of the year is a no brainer. However, the best XI has some clear errors in my mind. Evra and Gerrard really do not belong on the list. I would also argue that Terry especially doesn’t belong on the list. Vidic is a decent selection because he had a good year but I still would not consider him one of the best two center backs in the world.

    This list just seems a little bit too EPL focused to me. I know the EPL is very good. It is definitely the league that I am most familiar with. However, FIFA and the people who vote for this should have knowledge of all the best leagues. Some obvious snubs for me are Fabregas, Ibrahimovic, Lucio, Puyol, or even Van Persie. I am sure there are others but those come to mind. It is interesting to me that although Arsenal made it to the semis of the Champions League for this year they do not have a single representative on the first XI.

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  14. Xavi is a great player, but messi is more valuable. Barca is not the same without messi. He always come through when things a tough for barca.

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  15. Messi is a great, great player. I think Xavi is a more valuable player for Barcelona.

    Commence public skewering of my opinion…..

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