Lionel Messi makes history; wins four successive Ballon d’Or awards

Could Messi be the greatest football player of all time after winning a record-breaking fourth consecutive Fifa Ballon d’Or.

11:11 09 January 2013

After winning Ballon d’Or awards four times, Lionel Messi’s chances of being named the finest footballer of all timehave increased tremendously.

The 25-year-old beat Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta at an awards ceremony held in Zurich on Monday. Messi got 41.6per cent of the votes, while Ronaldo and Iniesta got 23.6per cent.

2012 is indeed a good year for Messi career-wise, as he was able to surpass Gerd Muller’s 40-year-old record of 85 goals in a calendar year.

Messi finished with astonishing 91 goals. However, according to the star he and his team had better years. Messi said: "I'm more interested in team awards than I am about what I might win individually. There have been years where we won more titles that have been better." 

 

Messi described his achievement as “unbelievable.”

 

He said: "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.