December 1st, 2009
Lionel Messi Wins the Ballon d’Or
Congratulations to Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, who takes the Ballon d’Or this year. He was voted head and mini-shoulders above the rest of the competition by journalists as the best player in Europe.
It’s the first time an Argentinian player has won – and Leo won big – beating last year’s winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, by the biggest vote margin in the competition’s history.
“There’s lots of emotion – the Ballon d’Or is very important for me. I know I appeared among the favourites because Barcelona had a profitable year. For me it’s a big honour to win – but also to become the first Argentinian in history to receive the trophy. I dedicate it to my family, they were always present when I needed them and sometimes felt even stronger emotions than me.”
Well said Leo. But here’s the thing: he’s got bundles of cash, a Ballon d’Or and a girlfriend with great hair. Can’t be much left on the to-do list.
A full list of the winners below, if you’d like to peruse.
1. Lionel Messi
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
3. Xavi
4. Andres Iniesta
5. Samuel Eto’o
6. Kaka
7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
8. Wayne Rooney
9. Didier Drogba
10. Steven Gerrard
kickette, can you PLEASE get us some info on the messi and girlfriend situation? because i read on a few websites that they’re getting married at the end of 2010. others say they’ve split up.
confuses me :S
The boy deserves it like whoa. Auguri, Lionel!
i love him and i knew he would win! he is amazing! he is like the best player ever! and personally i think he is sooo much better then Maradona was!
1. Lionel Messi
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
3. Xavi
4. Andres Iniesta
5. Samuel Eto’o
6. Kaka
7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
8. Wayne Rooney
9. Didier Drogba
10. Steven Gerrard
upset nando isnt there but not surprised becaus of his injuries. would not have put cron above xavi and iniesta! i would have put stevie g above drogba and ibra because stevie performed everywhere last season. premier league, champions league etc…
MANY MANY MANY CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I was sure of him winning half a year ago so there’s no surprise
OK , no problem
Cristiano will win the ballon d'or next year
Don't worry
he will win it
no he won't because he sucks…..sorry
BIG NO. oke?
Heaps of congrats to Leo! No one deserved it better!
About his girlfriend, are they really together still? In an interview in october he said that he didnt have a girlfriend, that he didnt have time for one. Anyway, they are cute together.
they've broken up couple of months ago. but whatever, they were cute back then…
congrats leo, party like a rockstar!
OMG! seriously? they broke up?
yaaaay!!!joy to the world, messi is a free agent now.
What did Drogba do last year? Scored maybe 5 goals? Hmm.. Should have been replaced by Nando or Cesc!! But congrats Leo, you really deserved it! And I do think that Xavi and Iniesta should have come before C.Ron but it's just the way it is….
Absolutely agree!
Congrats, Messi!…definitely a worthy winner…and am happy to see Stevie rounding up the top 10…
congrats messi, but where is nando??:(
#11. One above Cesc. My guess is that injuries spoiled it for them both, but still I would say they got robbed. Same with Iker.
I don't watch La Liga, so I really don't know much about Messi, but if he played better than Frank Lampard, somehow contributed more to his team, and was just generally as nice of a guy as Frank, then I suppose he really deserved the award. LOL Congratulations to him, and to the rest of the players who made the list.
Congrats to him! he really deserves it!!!
this shows he’s much better than Maradona!
Actually, Maradona was ineligble for this award at the height of his form. The rules were only changed in 1995(?) to allow non-European players to qualify.
Congratulations to Messi.
Yay for the Barcelona boys – boo for CR9. Second place, you have GOT to be kidding me.
Congrats to Messi!
Though I do think Drogba should be MUCH higher on the list. And the fact that Frank Lampard is like invisible to these people bothers me. He was definately one of the world’s best last year.
But, then again, maybe I’m just bitter? Congrats to Messi, though. Can’t say he didn’t deserve it.
Where did he get such a small girlfriend he more than 5 centimetres taller than her.
no shockers on the leo win, but I don’t understand how C.ron was above Xavi and Iniesta or Gerrard. all of them were better than him. But i’m not really surprised, people are bias.
Anyhoo, Congrats to Leo! totally deserved.
Messi deserves it entirely. And I’d have to agree, Xavi and Iniesta definitely were better than him.
Totally agree…Congrats to MESSI!!!
Yesh, what I meant was Xavi and Iniesta were definitely better than Cristiano Ronaldo.
That man deserved it so much! He has been unbelievable recently…plenty more awards for him to win
I Love Lionel!
Couldn't agree more! He's so talented, and doesn't over complicate his play! He's seems a really sweet guy to boot. Go Barca boys!!!!!!!!!!!
Definitely not enough Lampard. That’s ridiculous.
Can any one tell me that DO They Know Frank Lampard???
Yeah, well deserve prize!!
I don't get why Cristiano is over Xavi and Iniesta
And Drogba deserves a higher position…
YAY Fraggle YAY! What is scary is Barca has 5 of the top ten countingE'Oto and Ibrah
Shocker!
Hahah seriously though, well deserved and congratulations to him.
if that is one of the criteria, then it seems understandable that ronnie didnt win it twice in a row, given his trip to LA last summer… well done messi, don’t know much about him, last time i saw him play was in rome… but i won’t talk about that