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Lionel Messi wins FIFA world player award

Updated: 2011-01-11 10:27

(Agencies)

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 Lionel Messi wins FIFA world player award

Silvia Neid of Germany, FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women's Football, holds her trophy during the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2010 soccer awards ceremony in Zurich, January 10, 2011. REUTERS 

Silvia Neid won the inaugural women's coaching award for her work with the Germany national team, which defends its World Cup title at home in July. Also shortlisted were Maren Meinert, whose Germany Under-20 team was world champion in July, and Pia Sundhage, the Swedish coach of the United States' Olympic champions.

Haitian football received the FIFA fair play award for its recovery from an earthquake which devastated the Caribbean island last January.

The FIFA presidential award was made to Archbishop Desmond Tutu in recognition of South Africa's organization of the World Cup.

Tutu praised FIFA President Sepp Blatter for his passion and determination to ensure Africa would host the tournament.

"I want to pay a very warm tribute," the former Nobel Peace Prize winner said. "It is one in the eye for the Afro pessimists."

All three Ballon d'Or nominees featured in a World XI lineup chosen by FIFA and the FIFPro group of players' unions worldwide.

 
 Lionel Messi wins FIFA world player award

FIFA FIFPro World XI award 2010 winners pose during the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2010 soccer awards ceremony in Zurich, January 10, 2011. The FIFPro World XI award honours the best 11 players of the year and is chosen by over 50,000 professional football players from all over the world, who vote for the best player in each position. REUTERS 

The team consisted entirely of players from Barcelona, Real Madrid and European champion Inter.

Spain captain Iker Casillas from Madrid was chosen as goalkeeper. In defense, Barcelona pair Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique were joined by Inter's Maicon and Lucio.

Wesley Sneijder of Inter completed a midfield trio comprising Iniesta and Xavi. The attack teamed Messi and David Villa, who joined Barca from Valencia in May, with Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

Hamit Altintop won the Puskas Award for most beautiful goal in 2010 for his volley for Turkey against Kazakhstan in a 2012 European Championship qualifying match. The Bayern Munich midfielder connected with a right-footed shot from 18 meters (yards) after a left-flank corner had looped directly into his path for the ball to fly into the back of the net.

Altintop was chosen from a shortlist of 10 goals in a global online poll of more than one million fans. The award is named after the late Hungary and Real Madrid great Ferenc Puskas.

 

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