Argentina's Lionel Messi has won theGolden Ball awarded to the European Football of the year ,becoming the sixth Barcelona player to take the award and the first since Brazilian Ronaldindo in 2005. Messi beat last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo into second place while Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez finished third in the poll results released by France Football magazine early Tuseday. Praised by Argentina great Diego Maradona as his successor,Mess won an unprecedented treble in Spain last season with Barcelona as the Catalan side swept the Champions League ,the Spanish title and the Copa del Rey.Messi is a great football player.
