Advertisement

Messi again named soccer's best

An Argentina fan wears a Lionel Messi mask on his head prior to the FIFA World Cup Quarter Final match at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa on July 3, 2010. Germany beat Argentina 4-0. UPI/Chris Brunskill
An Argentina fan wears a Lionel Messi mask on his head prior to the FIFA World Cup Quarter Final match at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa on July 3, 2010. Germany beat Argentina 4-0. UPI/Chris Brunskill | License Photo

ZURICH, Switzerland, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Barcelona forward Lionel Messi Monday won the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or award, the second straight year he has been chosen the world's best player.

Messi, 23, scored 42 goals in 36 league games for Barcelona. He also led the Champions League with 12 goals in 12 games.

Advertisement

Brazilian Marta is the women's player of the year for the fifth successive time, beating out Germans Birgit Prinz and Lira Bajramaj.

Real Madrid Manager Jose Mourinho won coach of the year honors.

Latest Headlines