FIFA World Player

Lionel Messi Wins FIFA World Player  2009

Leo Messi has been voted FIFA World Player of the year at a ceremony in Zurich, thereby rounding off a spectacular year of team and individual honors.
On Monday afternoon Leo Messi was confirmed as the best player in the World 2009. At a gala event in Zurich Messi wins ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi, Kaká and Iniesta. The votes were cast by the managers and captains of the national teams.

Barça takes three of five

FC Barcelona was very much the star of the show with no fewer than three of the five finalists playing for the Club. Messi, Xavi and Iniesta flew to Zurich from Kuwait and Messi was joined by his parents at the ceremony.

Lionel Messi has capped a sensational 12 months in Barcelona colours by being crowned FIFA World Player Of The Year.

Messi, who described his presence at the FIFA Gala as “the culmination of a year that cannot be improved upon”, has managed to indeed go one better, sealing the only title still evading him.

The final five, with their voting points:

Player	Club	Country	Points
Lionel Messi			1,073
Cristiano Ronaldo	/		352
Xavi			196
Kaka	/		190
Andres Iniesta			134

FIFA World Player candidates

Six Barça players candidates for the FIFA World Player

Messi, Puyol,Henry, Ibrahimovic, Iniesta and Xavi are all in with a chance of being named the best player in the world for 2009. Barça has more nominees than any other club for the awards, the winners of which will be announced on December 21.

List of candidates

Michael Ballack (GER), Gianluigi Buffon (ITA), Iker Casillas (ESP), Cristiano Ronaldo (POR), Diego (BRA), Didier Drogba (CIV), Michael Essien (GHA), Samuel Eto’o (CMR), Steven Gerrard (ING), Thierry Henry (FRA), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (SWE), Andrés Iniesta (ESP), Kaká (BRA), Frank Lampard (ING), Luis Fabiano (BRA), Lionel Messi (ARG), Carles Puyol (ESP), Franck Ribéry (FRA), Wayne Rooney (ING), John Terry (ING), Fernando Torres (ESP), David Villa (ESP) y Xavi (ESP) Michael Ballack (GER), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (ESP), Cristiano Ronaldo (POR), Diego (USA), Didier Drogba (CIV), Michael Essien (GHA), Samuel Eto’o (CMR), Steven Gerrard (ENG), Thierry Henry (FRA), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (SWE), Andres Iniesta (ESP), Kaka (BRA), Frank Lampard (ENG), Luis Fabiano (BRA), Lionel Messi (ARG), Carles Puyol (Spain ), Franck Ribéry (FRA), Wayne Rooney (ENG), John Terry (ENG), Fernando Torres (ESP), David Villa (ESP) and Xavi (ESP)