Messi crowns player of the year / FIFPro World XI Announced

• Poignant

  22 Dec 09, 15:32

  FIFA/FIFPro World XI Announced

  Results of the FIFA/FIFPro World XI have been announced at the FIFA Gala in Zurich.

  

  2010 FIFA World Cup All Groups Final Draw (Getty Images)

  
  

  The football world gathered in Zurich, Switzerland tonight for the annual FIFA gala to announce not only the FIFA World Player Of The Year, but also the FIFA/FIFPro World XI.
  
  With over 50,000 professional footballers from around the world voting for their best starting XI of the last 12 months; there was huge competition for a place in the prestigious team of the year.
  
  The final XI was announced this evening and was totally dominated by the Premier League and La Liga, with all eleven places going to stars from Europe’s top two divisions.
  
  Last year’s goalkeeper Iker Casillas retained his place between the posts as did Chelsea’s John Terry in defense. Barcelona’s Xavi and Leo Messi also made the squad for the second year running with Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard.
  
  Amongst the debutants in the team were Barcelona’s Dani Alves and Manchester United’s Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic.
  
  FIFA/FIFPro World XI team in full:
  
  Iker Casillas (Real Madrid); Dani Alves (Barcelona), John Terry (Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), Patrice Evra (Manchester United); Xavi (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

• zocoss

  22 Dec 09, 16:31

   

  Lionel Messi crowns a stunning year by winning FIFA world player of the year award
  

  

  It's all mine: Lionel Messi is presented with the FIFA World Player of the Year award

   

  
  

  
  

  Lionel Messi has been rewarded for a stunning year in which he helped Barcelona to six trophies by being named FIFA’s world player of the year.

  The Argentina forward, who headed the clinching goal against Manchester United in the Champions League final, scored on Saturday to win the Club World Cup for Barcelona against Estudiantes.

  Messi, 22, won the award, voted for by the coaches and captains of each national side, for the first time, beating last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo. He was presented with the trophy at a glittering awards gala in Zurich on Monday night.

  
  

  Messi said: ‘I’m extremely happy. We’ve just ended a historic year in which we won every competition we played in.’

  
  

  Ronaldo, who left United for a world record £80million shortly after being upstaged by Messi in the Champions League final, admitted he’s missing life at Old Trafford. He said: ‘I played there for six years and I left a few friends there.’

  
  

  Ronaldo won the Fifa Puskas award for the best goal of the 2008/09 season for his long-range effort for Manchester United against Porto in the Champions League in April.

  
  

  England’s John Terry and Steven Gerrard were among the players named in the World XI, voted for by members of the international professional footballers’ union. Patrice Evra, Fernando Torres and Nemanja Vidic were also picked, making five players from the Premier League.

   

  

  Five star: Iniesta, Kaka, Messi and Xavi look a little sheepish next to Ronaldo (left) in Zurich

   

  
  

   

   

   

  FIFPro World XI: 

   

  Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)

  Daniel Alves (Barcelona), John Terry (Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd), Patrice Evra (Man Utd)

  Xavi (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

  Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Fernando Torres (Liverpool)