It was Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi all over the headlines again as he won his fourth FIFA Ballon d'Or in as many successive years. The Barcelona player has created a sort of history during the whole process after he was presented with the prestigious award during a gala ceremony in Zurich. Messi has ended the 2012 season on a high note having achieved several records at a stretch. Cristiano Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta were the two other players who were highly tipped to receive the award, but were nowhere near Messi if one has to consider the kind of records he created during the process.
Messi’s biggest achievement in the just concluded 2012 season was being the top scorer in the UEFA Champions League by leaving behind the likes of Ronaldo and Iniesta. Playing with a string of other football stars like Radamel Falcao and Wayne Rooney, it was Messi who stole the thunder during most part of the tournament during which he even equaled the record of 14 goals in a single season of UEFA, which was originally held by Jose Altafini. La Liga, the Spanish football series, too was a memorable one for the talented forward.
In fact, Messi scored a record 50 goals during the entire 2012 series that catapulted him to the top league. Another major record that was created by the Argentine soccer player was that of maximum number of goals in a calendar year, which was previously held by Gerd Muller of Germany with a superb 91 goals on an overall.
The 25-year-old Barcelona player said: "To tell you the truth this is really quite unbelievable. The fourth award that I have had is just too great for words. 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 recognize all of my friends in the Argentinean 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."
Coach of Spain's UEFA EURO 2012 victorious team, Vicente del Bosque received the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men's Football 2012 seeing off competition from the two former winners, Madrid coach José Mourinho and former Barcelona boss Josep Guardiola. The 62-year-old said: "I would like to remember all of the coaches I had in my time who were part of my education." Current Sweden and former United States Pia Sundhage took the women's equivalent.
The FIFA/FIFPro World XI even announced awards for Iker Casillas (Real Madrid CF); Daniel Alves (FC Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid CF), Gerard Piqué (FC Barcelona), Marcelo (Real Madrid CF); Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid CF), Andrés Iniesta (FC Barcelona), Xavi Hernández (FC Barcelona); Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona), Falcao (Club Atlético de Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid CF).
However, the star for the whole event was undoubtedly Messi who was so humble even after being on top of the world with a spectacular display of pure football action.
