Messi wins third straight Ballon d'Or (AP)

[ASFN Admin]

Already considered one of soccer's greats at age 24, Lionel Messi become the first person to win FIFA player of the year three times in a row. The Barcelona and Argentina forward received the FIFA Ballon d'Or award for 2011, winning out over club teammate Xavi Hernandez and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo for the sport's top individual honor.

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