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Magical Lionel Messi is crowned king of Europe
Tim Nichols1 Dec 2009
England's top players were snubbed when Argentina ace Lionel Messi was named European Footballer of the Year.
Despite three English clubs reaching the Champions League semi-finals last season, only two home-grown players made the top 10 of the prestigious Ballon d'Or, awarded by France Football magazine.
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney was the highest-placed Premier League player in eighth, with Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard finishing 10th. Chelsea duo Frank Lampard (21st) and John Terry (26th) were the only other English players on the list, despite their impressive World Cup qualifying campaign under Fabio Capello.
A further six England-based players - Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres, Cesc Fabregas, Ryan Giggs, Nemanja Vidic and Andrey Arshavin - made the list, but the presence of 13 players currently playing in Spain's La Liga highlighted the growing power shift between Europe's top two domestic leagues.
Six of the top seven players on the list ply their trade in Spain with 2009 Champions League winners Barcelona boasting three of the top four - Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta.
Michael Owen was the last Englishman to win the award, in 2001, although Lampard finished second in 2005.
Messi, who nearly missed out on next summer's World Cup after his country's poor qualifying performances, spoke of his delight at being named Europe's top footballer.
The Argentine, who scored 38 goals in 51 games last season, told France Football: "There's lots of emotion - the Ballon d'Or is very important for me.
"I know I appeared among the favourites because Barcelona had a profitable year. It's a big honour to win - but also to become the first Argentinian to receive the trophy.
"I dedicate it to my family, they were always present when I needed them and sometimes felt even stronger emotions than me."
The 22-year-old, top scorer in the Champions League last season, recently signed a two-year contract extension with Barca that includes a £228m buy-out clause after a record-breaking year for the club saw them win an unprecedented Treble in coach Josep Guardiola's first term in charge.
The award, voted for by football journalists, has been won by only four Englishmen in its 53-year history — Stanley Matthews (1956), Bobby Charlton (1966), Kevin Keegan (1978 and 1979) and Owen.
Reader views (4)
so magical he played 180 minutes against Chelsea last season - half of them against a right back on his wrong side! - and didn't have a shot at goal let alone on target. Righto. Iniesta and Xavi bring so much more to the game in terms of all round team contribution.
- Peter Bench, London, 02/12/2009 13:26
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About time too. Quite how he didn't win it last year and that jelly limbed cheat did I have no idea.
- Stu, Beckton, 01/12/2009 12:28
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And deseveredly so,he has by far in the last 18 months been the most complete player in Europe, scores all types of goals,awesome balance, beats defenders on either side and another is he does not go down as if by snipers bullett,like a few we could mention in out league..lets hope we get too see him on top form at the world cup.
- Phil, herts, 01/12/2009 10:10
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"England's top players were snubbed....."
Er no! It's a fair result and I wonder if anybody actually considers that an English player would even get near that accolade?
John Terry got the best defender award and whilst you could make a case for it, I think there's better.
- Mark, South-East London, 01/12/2009 09:48
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