Messi Wins Record Fourth Straight Award as Soccer’s Best Player
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Lionel Messi was crowned soccer’s best player for an unprecedented fourth straight time after the Barcelona and Argentina forward broke the record for goals in a calendar year.
Messi scored 91 times in 2012, overtaking Gerd Muller, who had 85 goals for West Germany and Bayern Munich in 1972. Last night’s Ballon D’Or award puts Messi one ahead of three-time winners Zinedine Zidane of France and Ronaldo of Brazil. Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo came second in the poll, ahead of Messi’s 28-year-old clubmate Andres Iniesta.