Lionel Messi has won the FIFA Ballon d’Or award for 2011 for the third consecutive year, booking a place in football’s pantheon.
The Argentinean wizard beat his club teammate Xavi Hernandezand Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid to get the game’s most prestigiousindividual honor.
The 24-year-old was the key element in Barcelona’s outstanding performance in 2011, during which the Catalan side raised five trophies including the Champions League, Spanish Leagueand Club World Cup.
Beside Messi, only World Cup winners Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo havewon the award three times since FIFA created its world player award in 1991, now merged with the Ballon d’Or presented by France Football magazine since 1956.
Messi also matched the current UEFA President Michel Platini, who was named the world’s best footballer for threeconsecutive years.