Argentina and FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has won the inaugural Fifa Ballon d’Or award at a ceremony in Zurich.
Messi, only 23, won the prize ahead of his Barca team-mates Andres Iniesta and Xavi. The last player to win the Ballon d’Or award twice in a row was AC Milan striker Marco van Basten in the late 1980’s.
“I’m surprised to win but pleased to be here with my friends,” said Messi, who won the two separate awards last year. (Ballon d’or France Football and FIFA Player of the year)
Jose Mourinho, who won a Treble with Inter Milan in 2010, was named the Coach of the Year.