Messi wins Ballon d'Or

Argentina star Messi was selected ahead of Barcelona team-mates Xavi and Andres Iniesta, who both won the World Cup with Spain last summer. Messi, 23, scored an astonishing 60 goals for club and country in 2010 and is regarded by many as the most gifted player of his generation. He said: "To be honest, I didn't expect to win today, but it was already great to be here next to my two mates. To win it makes it even more special. I want to share with all of my friends, my family, all the Barcelonistas and the Argentinians." The FIFA Ballon d'Or was created following the merger of France Football magazine's Footballer of the Year prize with the FIFA World Player of the Year gong.