Messi caps Barcas perfect year

Argentinas Lionel Messi claimed the World Player of the Year award on Monday night to almost complete his collection of footballs greatest honours.

Messi tacked on the prestigious award to his growing list of accolades at a FIFA ceremony in Zurich,easily outdistancing the last two winners Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka along with his Barcelona team mates Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta,in voting among national team captains and coaches. He also became the first Argentine to win the award.

It caps a perfect year for the winger,who won an unprecedented treble of titles with Barcelona the Spanish league and cup,and the Champions League and received the Ballon DOr as the best player in Europe. He also sealed Barcelonas first Club World Cup on Saturday with an extra-time goal to beat Estudiantes 2-1.

All that eludes the 22-year-old now is a World Cup title. This is the best way to end a magnificent year for Barcelona,my team mates and for me. It is beautiful to achieve a year that cannot possibly be improved, Messi said through a translator.

Runner-up the last two years,Messi received 1,047 points in voting. Ronaldo was a distant second with 352 points,followed by Xavi with 196 points. Messi scored 38 goals in 51 matches in all competitions during the 2008-2009 season,and has continued with 15 goals in 22 games this campaign. But his form with Argentina has been less spectacular. The South American giants only stumbled into the World Cup after late winners in the final qualifying matches against Peru and Uruguay,with Messi in particular appearing confused and uninspired since Diego Maradona took over as coach last year.

Maradona has labelled Messi his successor on the field,and Messi has already surpassed the former great in terms of successes at club level. But his only international triumph was an Olympic gold medal in 2006,and he will have to play much better for his country to lead Argentina to a third World Cup and their first since Maradona inspired victory in 1986.

The womens award went to Brazils Marta for the fourth year in a row. The 23-year-old playmaker beat team mate Cristiane,Kelly Smith of England,and Germans Birgit Prinz and Inka Grings.

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The late England player and manager Bobby Robson received FIFAs fair play award,while the presidential award for contributions to football and society went to Jordans Queen Rania. The world football body also announced its first World XI mens team which included six players from the Spanish league and five from the Premier League. Real Madrids Iker Casillas was chosen as goalkeeper,with Manchester Uniteds Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra joining Chelseas John Terry and Barcelonas Dani Alves in defence. Xavi,Iniesta and Liverpools Steven Gerrard were picked midfielders,with Messi,Ronaldo and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres in attack.

Ronaldo was honoured for scoring the best goal of 2009,a 40-metre shot against Porto in last seasons Champions League.

Winners list

Player of the Year men: Lionel Messi

Player of the Year women: Marta

Fair Play award: Sir Bobby Robson

Best Goal of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo

World XI team:

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas Real Madrid; Defenders: Dani Alves Barcelona,Patrice Evra Manchester United,John Terry Chelsea,Nemanja Vidic Manchester United; Midfielders: Steven Gerrard Liverpool,Xavi Hernandez Barcelona,Andres Iniesta Barcelona; Forwards: Lionel Messi Barcelona,Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid,Fernando Torres Liverpool