FCBARCELONA.CAT

06.12.2009 12:29

Messi picks up the Ballon d'Or

Marc Guillén (special envoy) / Anna Segura

Leo Messi collected his 2009 Ballon d'Or this Sunday morning in a ceremony organised by France Football in Paris which confirmed him as this year's European Player of The Year.

The photo that everybody had been waiting for finally happened this morning when Leo Messi lifted the 2009 Ballon d'Or trophy. At a few minutes past 11.00 in the studios of the TF1 “Telefoot” programme, Barca's Argentine star finally received the award given by the France Football magazine.

Family support

In one of the most important days in his footballing career. Messi was not alone at the ceremony, as his brothers Rodrigo, Matías and sister Marisol,as well as Barca President Joan Laporta, and Vice President Albert Perrín accompanied him..

Thuram gives his congratulations

Messi was also congratulated in person by ex-teammate Lilian Thuram who came to the TF1 studios to pass on his good wishes to the new European Player of The Year. Thuram, who was at the club between 2006 and 2008, also exchanged words with Joan Laporta.

Now for the second!

Before the ceremony, Leo Messi had the opportunity to look through the latest edition of the France Football magazine which features a long interview with him in which he announces his intention: “to win the award a second time”, whilst explaining: “it's the way Barca play that has allowed me to win this award”.