Photos: Lionel Messi Wins 4th Consecutive Ballon D’or
January 7, 2013
FIFA Ballon d'Or award winner Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi holds the trophy during the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images
This combo of two file photographs shows at top; FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi, from Argentina, scoring his second goal against Zaragoza during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, in a Nov. 17, 2012 file photo, and at bottom; a June 18, 1972 file photo of Gerd Mueller, left, of West Germany, scoring a goal against the Soviet Union in the Heysel Stadium, in Brussels. Messi scored his 85th goal during the Spanish league game with Betis on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, matching the current record of most goals scored within one calendar year, previously held by former German striker Gerd Mueller. (AP Photos, Files)
Argentina`s Lionel Messi, left, and US Abby Wambach, right, pose with their trophies after winning the World Player of the Year Awards during the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2013 held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Keystone, Walter Bieri)
FILE - The Sept. 19, 2012 file photo shows Barcelona's Lionel Messi from Argentina, eying the ball during a Champions League Group G soccer match against Spartak Moscow at the Camp Nou Stadium, in Barcelona. Lionel Messi won the FIFA world's best footballer award for record 4th straight year on Monday, Jan 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa De Olza)
FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi from Argentina looks on during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Espanyol at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Ballon d'Or finalists (L-R) Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta and Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi pose prior to the start of the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images
Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs Atletico de Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on December 16, 2012. LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images
Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring during the Spanish league football match Malaga CF vs FC Barcelona on January 22, 2012 at Rosaleda stadium in Malaga. Jorge Guerrero/AFP/Getty Images
Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi kicks the ball during the Spanish Cup football match FC Barcelona vs Osasuna on January 4, 2012 at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images
SEVILLE, SPAIN - DECEMBER 09: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona gives his thumbs up during the La Liga match between Real Betis Balompie and FC Barcelona at Estadio Benito Villamarin on December 9, 2012 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his second goal during the Spanish League Clasico football match FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid CF on October 7, 2012 at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images
(L-R) A combination photograph shows Lionel Messi holding the 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or trophies. Messi, still only 25, was named the world's best player for the fourth time in a row on January 7, 2013 after a year in which finally produced his best form for Argentina as well as Barcelona. REUTERS/Staff/Files
Barcelona's Lionel Messi (top) scores his second goal against Atletico de Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois during their Spanish first division soccer match at Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona December 16, 2012. REUTERS/Gustau Nacarino
Barcelona's Lionel Messi (C) fights for the ball with Espanyol's Diego Colotto (L) during their Spanish First division soccer league match at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona January 6, 2013. REUTERS/Sergio Carmona
Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates his goal against Atletico de Madrid during their Spanish first division soccer match at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona December 16, 2012. REUTERS/Gustau Nacarino
Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates his goal against Atletico Madrid during their Spanish first division soccer match at Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona December 16, 2012. REUTERS/Gustau Nacarino
Barcelona's Lionel Messi (2nd R) is chased by Cordoba's players during their Spanish King's Cup soccer match at Nuevo Arcangel stadium in Cordoba December 12, 2012. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo
Barcelona's Lionel Messi is challenged by Cordoba's Carlos Caballero (L) during their Spanish King's Cup soccer match at Nuevo Arcangel stadium in Cordoba December 12, 2012. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo
Barcelona's Lionel Messi from Argentina, right, vies for the ball against Racing Santander's Alvaro Gonzalez, left, during their Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Sardinero stadium in Santander, Spain, Sunday, March 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Juan Manuel Serrano Arce)
Barcelona's Lionel Messi (R) is challenged by Real Betis' players during their Spanish First Division soccer match at Benito Villamarin stadium in Seville December 9, 2012. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo
FILE - The Oct. 12, 2012 file photo shows Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrating after scoring against Uruguay during a World Cup 2014 qualifying soccer match in Mendoza, Argentina. Lionel Messi won FIFA world's best footballer award for record 4th straight year Monday, Jan 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Eduardo Di Baia)
Argentina's Lionel Messi, one of the nominees for the FIFA Men's World Soccer Player of the Year Award,attends a press conference during the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2013 held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Keystone/Steffen Schmidt)
Categories: Soccer, Sports, Syndicated
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