Leo Messi is the 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year

By: Daryl | December 21st, 2009

messi wpoty

Leo Messi ruined the big FIFA end of year gala by being far too good throughout 2009 and making the FIFA Men’s World Player of the Year 2009 award rather predictable. Which is just a silly way of saying he very much deserved it.

But Messi was possibly left feeling very small next to 2009 Women’s World Player of the Year Marta because i) he is and ii) Marta’s win was her fourth in a row. Which means Marta has been the best female player in the world since 2005. A level of dominance it’s hard to imagine anyone achieving in the men’s game.

As with his Ballon d’Or win, Leo Messi won by a massive margin. The captains and coaches of every national team each voted for a top three, with points distributed accordingly. Messi had 1,073 points, which is a lot more than runner up Cristiano Ronaldo (352 points), Xavi Hernandez (196), Kaka (190) and Iniesta (134).

My favourite part of this is that FIFA reveals the ballots. Turns out not everyone voted for Messi. Some just voted for their mates. I kid you not.

Here are the worst offenders:

By sheer co-incidence Israel captain (and Liverpool midfielder) Yossi Benayoun gave (Liverpool captain) Steven Gerrard his #1 vote. England (and Chelsea) captain John Terry voted Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack #1 and #2 respectively. Guess who those fellas play for.

Spain captain Iker Casillas voted #1 Cristiano Ronaldo and #2 Kaka. He did vote Messi in at #3 now, so some respect to him for not pulling a total Barcelona blackout.

Argentina manager Diego Maradona was prohibited from voting for compatriot Leo Messi, but also pointedly didn’t vote for Cristiano Ronaldo either. Just in case. Ireland assistant manager Marco Tardelli used Giovanni Trapattoni’s vote for some reason, and voted for Gigi Buffon as his #1.

But Brazilians were by far the biggest tactical voters. South Africa’s Brazilian manager Carlos Alberto Parreira voted for Kaka, while neither Brazil captain Lucio nor Brazil coach Dunga managed to cast any votes for Lionel Messi between them.

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Category: World Football

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Rieke

Jelousy may be the factor that a soccer player did not vote for Messi. Because, they all know that he is great at this moment.
Helge

Eto'o also voted for Messi, Xavi and Iniesta (dunno in which order). Seems like there is not sooo much beef between him and Barca :)

Haha, and I just thought the same while studying the ballots. Biggest joke is John Terry voting for Michael Ballack as 2nd-best footballer of the year - and I'm saying this although I am German :D
OhYes

Ibra voted Messi, Xavi and Iniesta. But I can't tell if he's only voting for his teammates or if that's his honest opinion because lots of people voted exactly like that.
Flippy

Cesc < Xavi, Cesc < Iniesta
guy above is EPL biased, Xavi and Iniesta are chosen ahead of him for Spain. Xavi and Iniesta are the core of the Barça midfield that won 6 for 6. What I really don't understand is how Kaka gets 4th?
Iortyer Daniel Dondo

Cesc Fabrigas deserved an award as the FIFA best midfider, because individually he has performed.
Meanwhile Messi is indeed the world player of the year.
zohreh

is very good messi
ela

Matt,
it's forbidden to vote for a teamate
Matt

And Mascherano didn't vote for Messi at all.... something up there?
Rory

Quick Question:

As Luis Fabiano got the lowest number of votes, does that make him "The World's Worst Best Player"
Johonna

So who do you think Hleb voted for in first? His first choice was "invalid vote." Do you suppose he put himself down?
Julian

Good catches Daryl. I was surprised to see Domenech vote Buffon in second place.
Jim

I'm surprised to see John Terry put Iniesta for third place though, after Iniesta knocked his Chelsea out of the champions league.
Carlos

Maradona voted for Drogba and Rooney, you can say he thinks english soccer is better than spanish.
Daryl

Oops. Two typos, now corrected. Remember kids: Always check your posts before clicking publish.
Felix

Ballack also voted for Lampard and Drogba (although behind Messi).
Thomas

I'm rather confused here. Who is this Brazil captain Drogba? Why would the Italy assistant manager take the Ireland managers vote and use it on Gigi Buffon? :)