Formidable golden boy Messi rules the world once more

Lionel Messi strengthened his claim to be considered the greatest footballer of all time by winning a record-breaking fourth consecutive Fifa Ballon d’Or last night.

The 25-year-old took the honour ahead of Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo in second and Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta at an awards ceremony in Zurich.

The Argentina forward enjoyed a remarkable 2012, even by his own high standards, most notably surpassing Gerd Muller’s 40-year-old record of 85 goals in a calendar year, finishing with an incredible 91.

Messi, wearing a polka-dotted dinner jacket and matching bow tie, said: “To tell you the truth, this is really quite unbelievable. The fourth award that I have had is just too great for words.

“I would like to recognise my other colleagues from Barcelona; Andres, it has been great to train and play alongside you.

“I would also like to recognise all of my friends in the Argentinian national team, everyone that has worked with me, coaches and staff and my family and my friends. Also my wife and my son. Thank you.”

Messi polled 41.60% of the votes, with Ronaldo taking 23.68% and Iniesta 10.91%.

Although Messi missed out on both the Primera Division and Champions League crowns, Messi racked up a host of personal achievements last year.

He scored an unprecedented 50 goals in a La Liga season, a record 14 goals in a Champions League season and became the first player to net five times in a Champions League match.

He also shattered the myth that he does not perform as well for Argentina as he does for his club by scoring 12 goals for his country in nine games.

Messi’s fourth award took him past the three Fifa gongs won by both former Brazil striker Ronaldo and former France midfielder Zinedine Zidane.

France great Michel Platini, and former Netherlands forwards Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten all won the old Ballon d’Or trophy for European footballer of the year three times.

Remarkably, Messi claimed he did not consider 2012 his best year yet.

He said: “I’m more interested in team awards than I am about what I might win individually. There have been years where we won more titles that have been better.”

The award was voted for by national team coaches and captains plus invited journalists.

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni voted for Messi in first, Ronaldo in second and Xavi in third with captain Robbie Keane opting for Messi, Ronaldo and Iniesta as his selections.

Ireland’s media representatives, Paul Kelly and Jimmy Magee, somewhat surprisingly left Messi out of their top three, opting instead for Ronaldo first, Iniesta second and Italy’s Andrea Pirlo in third.

Fenerbahce’s Miroslav Stoch won the Fifa Puskas Award for goal of the year, Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque was named World Coach of the Year and United States international Abby Wambach won Women’s World Player of the Year.

The FIFPro World XI was made up entirely of players based in Spain with Barcelona’s Dani Alves, Gerard Pique and Xavi, Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso and Atletico Madrid’s Radamel Falcao joining the three Ballon d’Or nominees in the team.

Franz Beckenbauer received the Fifa Presidential Award.