Today in history: Messi wins World Player of the Year

Barcelona's forward Lionel Messi was awarded the World Player of the Year on Monday, 21st December, 2009.

Messi lifted the prestigious award at FIFA's gala ceremony in Zurich, outdistancing the 2007 and 2008 winners, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, respectively,  along with his Barcelona teammates Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta in voting among national team captains and coaches.

It was a perfect year for the winger, who won an unprecedented treble of titles with Barcelona, the Spanish league and cup, and the Champions League, and received the Ballon D'Or as the best player in Europe. He also sealed Barcelona's first Club World Cup with an extra-time goal to beat Estudiantes 2-1 on Saturday 19th December, 2009 prior to the award.

Messi, who was runner-up the last two years, received 1,047 points in voting. Ronaldo was second with 352 points, followed by Xavi with 196 points.

Messi scored 38 goals in 51 matches in all competitions during 2008-2009 season, and has continued with 15 goals in 22 games  in the season.

Maradona has labeled Messi his "successor" on the field, and Messi has already surpassed the former great in terms of successes at club level. But his only international triumph was an Olympic gold medal in 2008, and he will have to play much better for his country to lead Argentina to a third World Cup and its first since Maradona inspired victory in 1986.

Lionel Messi was close to winning the World Cup for Argentina, but his team lost to Mario Gotze's extra time goal for Germany in the final.

The Argentine after winning his first World player of the year has added three to it, making him four times winner, a record in the award history.