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Messi named 2011 Ballon d'Or winner

Mon 9th, January 2012

Zurich, Switzerland (Sports Network) - Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was named the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or winner on Monday, claiming the honor for the third successive year.

Messi beat out Barcelona teammate Xavi Hernandez and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid to win the award, which caps another hugely successful year for the Argentina international.

The 24-year-old helped Barcelona win the league title, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup in the past year, and he becomes just the fourth player in history to win the award three times, joining Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten of the Netherlands as well as Frenchman Michel Platini.

Barcelona's Pep Guardiola was named 2011 Coach of the Year, edging Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson and Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho.

Japan midfielder Homare Sawa claimed the award for 2011 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year after helping guide Japan to its first Women's World Cup title, ending the five-year hold on the award by Brazil's Marta.

Also announced on Monday was the FIFA/FIFPro World XI:

Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid). Defenders: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United). Midfielders: Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Xavi (Barcelona). Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).