"very excited" after topping our
annual list of the world's most
outstanding players for the the
third time
Lionel Messi has won the Goal 50 award
for the world's best footballer after
another record-breaking season.
The Argentinian forward claims the title
for the third time in recognition of an
incredible campaign during which he beat
Gerd Muller's 40-year-old record of 85
goals scored in a calendar year.
The 26-year old scored 91 goals in 2012
and increased his total as Barcelona's all-
time top scorer to 313 goals in all
competitions by the end of the season.
Messi struck in his 19th consecutive La
Liga game in March 2013, becoming the
first footballer in history to score in
consecutive matches against every team
in a major professional league.
After receiving the trophy from Goal 's
Barcelona correspondent Pilar Suarez at
the club's training ground, Messi said:
"I'm very excited about this. As players,
we work the entire year to win honours
for the team, we don't look for the
individual awards, but when they come
it's an incentive and gives us strength to
continue on the same path."
The Goal 50 is regarded as one of the
most credible and respected awards in
sport because it is chosen by the world's
biggest football website.
Voting takes place at the end of domestic
and international seasons for the majority
of countries.
More than 500 Goal journalists from
around the world vote to select their top
50 players, giving a truly global view.
Messi heads this year's list in front of
second-placed Franck Ribery, who helped
European champions Bayern Munich win
an historic treble. Last year's winner
Cristiano Ronaldo is third.
Commenting on the results, Graham
Shaw, Editorial Director, said: "Messi had
a spectacular season and it is incredible to
think he has achieved so much by the age
of 26. His award this year takes him past
Cristiano Ronaldo to a record three Goal
50 titles and recognises the individual
brilliance of a player who is rightly
recognised by some as the greatest of all
time."
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