Messi: what a win ! 01/12/2009 02:03

Never in the history of France Football's Ballon d'Or a winner had been declared with such ease and authority. Never a winner had won by such a margin: Messi finishes first, 240 points ahead of the runner-up, the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, winner of last year's France Football's Ballon d'Or. Messi was indeed the hot favourite this year, but the outcome of the vote will surpass even his own hopes and the most optimistic predictions. The Argentine has won emphatically, unanimously almost. The 96 jurors of France Football's Ballon d'Or have decided that Messi was clearly the best football player of the world in 2009. The FC Barcelona forward received an amazing tally of 473 points, out of a possible... 480 !

Even his more average performances over the last few months (including difficult qualifying matches for the 2010 Fifa World Cup with his national team) have not tarnished his victory nor diminished his aura in the eyes of the jury who put Messi ahead of the pack thanks to his decisive role in making his team win major titles. Messi is seen as the driving force behind Barça's triple triumph last season in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and, above all, the Uefa Champions League. In this competition alone, Messi finished as best goal scorer with 9 goals in 12 games. If another symbol of Messi's domination has to be found, here it is: in the final of the Champions League in Rome last May, the man nicknamed « El Enano » (the dwarf) - due to the height problems he encountered during his teenage years - scored a header! And Barcelona then defeated Manchester United (2-0).

A WINNER FROM ARGENTINA, AT LAST !

Messi didn't finish as best goal scorer of La Liga last May, yet he found the net no less than 23 times in la Liga. He was the second best striker of Barça in the Spanish League behind Samuel Eto'o (30 goals). Messi's goals are beautiful and numerous enough, but what about his technical skills, then? Dribbling, passing, crossing, shooting, moving forward with the ball glued at his feet... The wonder from Rosario is such a worthy France Football's Ballon d'Or winner ! The icing on the cake ? He is the first player from Argentina (of all footballing countries!) to win the much coveted trophy.

Since 1995, the FF's Ballon d'Or has been a competition opened to players from all continents (up until then, only European players could claim the trophy). Brazil won it five times in the space of fourteen years (Kakà in 2007, Ronaldinho in 2005, Rivaldo in 1999, Ronaldo in 1997 and 2002). However, Argentina had never brought it home. The wait was long, and makes this success even more remarkable. "La Pulga" (the flee) has been quite a sensation in 2009. By winning the most prestigious of all individual trophies of Planet Football, Prince Messi is today crowned with no possible debate. He makes a very special king indeed.


For further details please contact Xavier Rivoire: xrivoire@francefootball.fr