Indian Express, Zurich: Lionel Messi's claim to a place in football's pantheon of greats should be advanced tomorrow when the FIFA Ballon d'Or trophy is awarded to the world's best player in 2011. The Argentina forward heads a three-player shortlist, alongside Barcelona teammate Xavi Hernandez and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, and seeks to win for a third straight year. Only World Cup winners Zinedine Zidane of France and Brazil's Ronaldo have won three times since FIFA created its world player award in 1991, now merged with the Ballon d'Or presented by France Football magazine since 1956. Only France great Michel Platini ever claimed that trophy for three consecutive years, winning from 1983-85 in an era in which only European players were eligible. That Messi likely will have three awards by the age of 24 is even more remarkable. Few players have ever had a year quite like Messi's 2011. He defined an elegant Barcelona team which won the Champions League, Spanish League, European Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup and, after voting closed in November, the FIFA Club World Cup. Read Full: Messi set to win 3rd straight world player honour - Indian Express, Image: flickr.com
