FCBARCELONA.CAT

21.12.2009 21:29

Messi takes over from Ronaldinho

Jordi Clos

Another Barça player has won the FIFA World Player four years after it was awarded to Ronaldinho. Messi is the fifth Barça player to receive the award and the first non-Brazilian.

After a four-year wait, another Barça player has been chosen FIFA World Player 2009. Leo Messi, who finished in second place the two previous seasons, follows in the footsteps of Ronaldinho, who won it in 2006. Barça top the ranking of winners, with seven, although Ronaldo was transferred during the summer prior to the award.

Romario starts the ball rolling

The FIFA World Player awards came into being at the beginning of the 90’s, round about the time of Johan Cruyff's Dream Team. Romario (1994) was the first Barça star to win the award, finishing just in front of team-mate Hristo Stoichkov.

Ronaldo and Rivaldo

Ronaldo’s extraordinary 1996/97 season led to his winning in both years – he collected the second the summer after he moved to Inter Milan. His successor in the Barça squad, Rivaldo, won the award in 1999, having finished third the previous year.

Ronaldinho twice

The only player to have received the award two years running while still 100% with Barça is Ronaldinho. He joined Barça in 2003 and was voted best player in 2004 and 2005 – the fourth Barça player to take the award. Now Messi has become the fifth and along the way broken the dominance of the Brazilians.