Messi wins Golden Ball award
Published:Wednesday | December 2, 2009 | 9:11 AM
Argentina’s Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball awarded to the European Footballer of the Year with the biggest margin ever yesterday following an exceptional season with Barcelona.
Messi became the sixth Barcelona player to take the award and the first since Brazilian Ronaldinho in 2005.
He beat last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo into second place while Barcelona midfielder, Xavi Hernandez finished third in the poll results released by France Football.
Hailed by Argentina great Diego Maradona as his successor, Messi won an unprecedented treble in Spain last season with Barcelona as the Catalan side swept the Champions League, the Spanish title and the Copa del Rey.
Messi, who tallied 473 of a possible 480 points, largely dominated the voting and won with a record margin of 240 points.
Real Madrid winger, Ronaldo had 233 and Xavi had 170.