FCBARCELONA.CAT

13.01.2010 12:57

Xavi World’s Best Playmaker

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The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) has named Xavi Hernández as the World’s Best Playmaker 2009. Messi came second and Iniesta fourth.

Barça continues to accumulate awards. This time it’s the International Federation of Football History and Statistics. Following on from the recognition of Josep Guardiola as World Club Coach 2009, and Víctor Valdés as sixth in the ranking of the World’s Best Goalkeeper, Xavi Hernández has been named as best playmaker, an award he also won in 2008.

Messi and Iniesta

Xavi, who will receive the award on 1st February in London, finished just ahead of team-mate Leo Messi while Iniesta finished fourth behind Kaká. That’s three of the top four for Barça.

The home-grown midfielder was the only new face in the top seven compared with the previous year. According to the IFFHS, he received the award because of his “intelligent way of playing”. The jury was made up of representatives of 81 countries from across world.