Ferguson lauds Messi as he lifts Ballon d’Or award again

By The Newsroom
Published 10th Jan 2012, 08:04 BST
Lionel Messi was last night awarded the FIFA Ballon d’Or for the third successive year.

Barcelona’s 24-year-old Argentina striker beat team-mate Xavi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo to the title of the world’s best player.

Messi, man of the match in the Champions League final in 2011, also helped win the Primera Division, Spanish Supercopa, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup last year.

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Xavi both paid tribute to Messi.

Ferguson said Messi could now be judged alongside the greats of world football through the ages, even though he is still only 24.

“Critics have always questioned whether players like Pele from the 50s could play today,” said Ferguson.

“The answer to that is great players would play in any generation. Lionel Messi could play in the 1950s and the present day, as could Di Stefano, Pele, Maradona, Cruyff because they are all great players.

“Lionel Messi without question fits into that category.”