Superb Argentina striker Lionel Messi, reminiscent of former soccer legend Diego Maradona, has won the Ballon d'Or, the European Footballer of the Year award
02 Aralık 2009 Çarşamba 01:18
The 22-year-old beat last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo into second place while Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez finished third in the poll results released by French magazine France Football.
Messi became the first Ballon d'Or winner from Argentina and the sixth Barcelona player to take the award.
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.
The win caps a brilliant year for the left-footer, who helped Barcelona to a Champions League title with nine goals, as well as bagging six in the King's Cup and 23 in the league.
The award, formerly known as the European Footballer of the Year award, was voted on by journalists from across the world.
Catalan daily La Vanguardia praised the "devilish" talent in Messi's number ten shirt who "proves the master wherever he plays. The Maradona comparison comes automatically."
Barcelona daily El Mundo Deportivo also said that Messi "has the left foot of Maradona, the switch of rhythm of Cruyff and the lethal passing of Ronaldinho."
The 22-year-old beat last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo into second place while Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez finished third in the poll results released by French magazine France Football. 
