World Player Messi hails a perfect year for Barca
LIONEL MESSI spoke of his “perfect year” after being named the Fifa World Player of the Year last night.
The brilliant Argentine winger, 22, beat team-mates Andres Iniesta and Xavi, plus last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, to the award in Zurich, which was voted by each national team coach and captain.
Messi, 22, helped Barcelona to an unprecedented six trophies last season, while helping his country qualify for the World Cup.
Meanwhile, England’s John Terry and Steven Gerrard were both named in the Fifa/FIFPro World XI.
The XI, voted for by members of the international professional footballers’ union FIFPro, were: I Casillas (Real Madrid), J Terry (Chelsea), N Vidic (Man Utd), P Evra (Man Utd), D Alves (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), A Iniesta (Barcelona), S Gerrard (Liverpool), L Messi (Barcelona), C Ronaldo (Real Madrid), F Torres (Liverpool).