Argentina and Barcelona star Lionel Messi has won a record-breaking fourth consecutive FIFA Ballon d'Or.

Messi took the honor ahead of Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo.

He enjoyed a remarkable 2012 even by his own high standards, most notably surpassing Gerd Muller's 40-year-old record of 85 goals in a calendar year, finishing with an incredible 91.

Messi said: 'To tell you the truth this is really quite unbelievable. The fourth award that I have had is just too great for words.

Fenerbahce's Miroslav Stoch won the FIFA Puskas Award for goal of the year, Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque was named World Coach of the Year and United States international Abby Wambach won Women's World Player of the Year.

The FIFPro World XI was named up entirely of La Liga players with Barcelona's Dani Alves, Gerard Pique and Xavi, Real Madrid's Iker Casillas, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso and Atletico Madrid's Radamel Falcao joining the three Ballon d'Or nominees in the team.

Franz Beckenbauer received the FIFA Presidential Award.

Source