Argentinean Lionel Messi Wins Third Golden Ball

Jan 10 2012, 11 :20am GMT

Guantanamo's Venceremos Newspaper–-he Argentinean soccer star now playing for Spanish FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi, won his his third consecutive Golden Ball in his sport career on Monday, after a spectacular season in 2011.

  Messi excelled his teammate Xavi Hernandez Kreus and the Portuguese star playing for the Spanish pro team Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo, who finished second and third in the voting, respectively.

"For me, to win this award is a very big honor. I want to thank my teammates, because I could not have made it without them," said Messi at the gala organized by the International Soccer Federation (FIFA).

Messi equals France's Michel Platini as the only soccer players in history who has won three Golden Ball trophies.

Messi won five out of six possible titles in 2011, after conquering the Spanish League, the European Champions League, the Super Cup in Spain, the European Super Cup and the World Clubs Championship, scoring 12 goals in the Champions League and tying a goal scoring record that had been in the hands of Dutch player Ruud Van Nistelrooy up to now.

 Source: Prensa Latina