Messi wins FIFA Ballon d'Or

ZURICH Lionel Messi has won the FIFA Ballon d'Or award for 2011, as the world's best football player for a third consecutive year.
The Barcelona and Argentina forward beat his club teammate Xavi Hernandez and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid to get the game's most prestigious individual honour.
Messi's prolific scoring and unselfish creative play inspired Barcelona to win five trophies last year including the Champions League, Spanish League and Club World Cup.
Aged 24, Messi is the first man to win three straight FIFA world player awards in the honour's 21-year history.
Earlier, Homare Sawa ended Marta's five-year hold on the women's award after leading Japan to win the 2011 Women's World Cup.

The following is a list of all men's and women's winners since the
FIFA World Player award was introduced in 1991.

2011 Lionel Messi Argentina Barcelona
2010 Lionel Messi Argentina Barcelona
2009 Lionel Messi Argentina Barcelona
2008 Cristiano RonaldoPortugalManchester United
2007 Kaka Brazil AC Milan
2006 Fabio Cannavaro ItalyReal Madrid/Juventus
2005 Ronaldinho Brazil Barcelona
2004 Ronaldinho Brazil Barcelona
2003 Zinedine Zidane France Real Madrid
2002 Ronaldo Brazil Real Madrid
2001 Luis Figo PortugalReal Madrid
2000 Zinedine Zidane France Juventus
1999 Rivaldo Brazil Barcelona
1998 Zinedine Zidane France Juventus
1997 Ronaldo Brazil Inter Milan
1996 Ronaldo Brazil Barcelona/PSV
1995 George WeahLiberia AC Milan
1994 Romario Brazil Barcelona
1993 Roberto BaggioItalyJuventus
1992 Marco van Basten NetherlandsAC Milan
1991 Lothar Matthaeus Germany Inter Milan



Women
 2011 Homare SawaJapanInac Kobe Leonessa
2010 MartaBrazil Gold Pride/Santos
2009 MartaBrazil Los Angeles Sol/Santos
2008 MartaBrazil Umea IF
2007 MartaBrazil Umea IF
2006 MartaBrazil Umea IF
2005 Birgit Prinz Germany FFC Frankfurt
2004 Birgit Prinz Germany FFC Frankfurt
2003 Birgit Prinz Germany FFC Frankfurt
2002 Mia HammUSWashington Freedom
2001 Mia HammUSWashington Freedom