Lionel Messi has been named as FIFA World Player of the year 2009. The Argentine won this award despite competition from last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká and his team-mates Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta. Messi won last season with FC Barcelona the Spanish Championship, Spanish Cup and UEFA Champions League. This season the Catalans added the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup to their trophies.
FIFA World Player of the Year Ranking
1. Lionel Messi (ARG/FC Barcelona) 1.073 points
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (POR/Real Madrid) 352
3. Xavi (ESP/FC Barcelona) 196
4. Kaka (BRA/Real Madrid) 190
5. Andres Iniesta (ESP/FC Barcelona) 134
Lionel Messi, who has already won the European Footballer of the Year award, was also named in the FIFA/FIFPro World XI, the FIFA Team of the Year 2009.
The full lineup is: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Dani Alves (FC Barcelona), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), John Terry (FC Chelsea), Nemanja Vidić (Manchester United), Xavi Hernández (FC Barcelona), Andrés Iniesta (FC Barcelona), Steven Gerrard (FC Liverpool), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona), Fernando Torres (FC Liverpool)
