Lionel Messi has been awarded the FIFA Ballon d'Or for the third successive year, beating team-mate Xavi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo to the title of the world's best player.
The 24-year-old Argentinian was man of the match in last season’s Champions League final and was also part of the Barcelona team that won the Primera Division, Spanish Supercopa, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup last year.
Despite his youth, he can now be ranked among the greats of the game such as Pele, Cruyff, Maradona and Zidane.
Paying tribute to Messi, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "Critics have always questioned whether players like Pele from the 50s could play today. The answer to that is great players would play in any generation. Lionel Messi could play in the 1950s and the present day, as could Di Stefano, Pele, Maradona, Cruyff because they are all great players. Lionel Messi without question fits into that category."
Ferguson’s view was supported by Messi's Barcelona team-mate Xavi. “He's still young, only 24, and I think he's going to break all the records that exist in this sport,” he added. “He's going to be one of the best footballers in the history of the sport."
Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic were both included in the world XI which was announced at the same ceremony. Unsurprisingly, the line-up is dominated by Spanish players.
The FIFPro World XI: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Dani Alves (Barcelona), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Xavi (Barcelona), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd).
Also at the ceremony, Barcelona's Pep Guardiola was named coach of the year.