Lionel Messi - 4 X FIFA Ballon d'Or Winner
Lionel Messi collected a record-breaking fourth consecutive title of best player in the world after being awarded the 2012 FIFA Ballon d Or. In acknowledgement of such a feat, adidas created this artistic video stylizing Messi's glorious moments from the last four years.
In a fitting golden tint and illustrated by Richard Swarbrick, the video celebrates Lionel Messi who concluded 2012 by scoring over 90 goals. Despite Barcelona not winning a major trophy - barring the Copa Del Rey - Messi continued to go from strength to strength, amassing goals and records along the way. His achievements in 2012 included becoming BarÇa s all-time leading goalscorer in official matches, and breaking the record for the number of UEFA Champions League goals in a single season (14).
Lionel Messi was voted the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2012 winner by the coaches and captains of the national teams of the 209 FIFA Member Associations and a selected group of media. Messi won the FIFA Ballon d Or after polling 41.60% of the votes, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo on 23.68% and AndrÉs Iniesta on 10.91%.
FIFA have published the votes, with some interesting choices coming in, here's our selection of the most intriguing - Lionel Messi voted Iniesta, Xavi and Aguero; Hugo Lloris voted Casillas, Van Persie and Drogba; Mirko Vucinic voted Buffon, Pirlo and Ibrahimovic; Daniel Agger voted Pirlo, Iniesta and Messi; Vincent Kompany voted Messi, Xavi and Falcao; Steven Gerrard voted Messi, Ronaldo and Alonso. Whilst Thailand coach Winfried Schaefer probably had the most interesting choice, selecting Sergio Busquets as the best player in the world for 2012, followed by Iniesta and Ronaldo.
Alongside the Ballon d'Or, FIFPro the world players union, invited 50,000 professional players from all over the world to select their best team of 2012, the FIFA FIFPro World XI. The honours went to the following all-star squad: Iker Casillas (Spain) in goal; Dani Alves (Brazil), Marcelo (Brazil), Gerard PiquÉ (Spain) and Sergio Ramos (Spain) in defence; Xabi Alonso (Spain), AndrÉs Iniesta (Spain) and Xavi HernÁndez (Spain) in midfield; and Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Radamel Falcao (Colombia) and Lionel Messi (Argentina) up front.
Interesting to see no players selected from outside La Liga. A reflection there were no players good enough from the Premier League, Bundesliga and Serie A to break the Barcelona and Real Madrid stronghold? 
After being handed the trophy by Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro, Messi said of his achievement: "To tell you the truth this is really quite unbelievable. The fourth award that I have had is just too great for words.
"I would like to recognise my other colleagues from Barcelona; Andres it has been great to train and play alongside you. I would also like to recognise my friends in the Argentina team, everyone that has worked with me, coaches and staff and my family and friends. Also my wife and son.
It s really nice to win it again, for a fourth consecutive time. I'm really very happy. The fact is I enjoy the things that happen to me, the awards I ve won, and I hope I can now go on and win more titles with my club and my national team.
What are your thoughts? Surely the right man won the award but there were certainly some interesting votes, and do you agree with the FIFPro best team of 2012?
