Long Live the King: Lionel Messi Wins Back-To-Back Ballon D'Ors

In the end, Messi won again.

After winning in 2009, Lionel Messi was once again considered the best player in the world. There's no doubt that, right now, Lionel Messi is the undisputed king of world football.

Up until today, the FIFA award had always been given to a World Cup winner. Not this time.

Who better than one of the most talented players the world has ever seen to put an end to such tradition?

The outcome might be a little unfair to Xavi and Iniesta, who are both absolutely brilliant players and led Spain to the World Cup title after decades of failure. But they were "unlucky" to be playing in the same era and in the same team as Lionel Messi. Even they would admit, as they have several times, that Messi's unbelievable talent puts him in another level. Being number two and number three is no bad feat, especially if we consider that number one is Lionel Messi.

The Argentine had an absolutely magnificent year at Barcelona. In 52 matches, he scored 61 goals while assisting more than 25. When it seemed impossible, he took his game to another level. His destruction of Arsenal in the Champions League will never be forgotten.

At 23, Messi has already won two Ballon d'Ors and hasn't even reached his peak yet. With a full decade ahead of him and such a magnificent team around him, there's little doubt that he will beat Platini, Zidane, Ronaldo and Van Basten's record of three Ballon d'Ors. The way things are going this season, only a very unforeseen course of events can take the 2011 Ballon d'Or off from Lionel Messi. In one year, the Argentina will probably be lifting his third in a row.

In his acceptance speech, Lionel Messi thanked his teammates and had very good reason to do so, The fact that six Barcelona players (Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Piqué and David Villa) were in FIFPro's XI of the year just shows how special Pep's Dream Team is. While Messi is the most talented player of this generation, he is a member of one of the best club teams of all-time whose teammates have helped showcase his talents.

As for Xavi and Iniesta, not only did they help Messi win the award, but they were also recognized as the second and third best players in the world. Besides, they led Spain to the World Cup title and have every reason to be proud of themselves. They will go down as legends of the game, even without the Ballon d'Or. 

This is essentially a triumph for Barcelona and La Masia: never had the same academy had the three best players in the world, and it will probably never happen again. As if any further proof were required, this Barceona team will go down as one of the best in history.

As for Lionel Messi, at 23 the world is at his feet and he alone dominates world football. Long live Lionel Messi, the kind of football and the best player of this generation! And long live Xavi and Iniesta, they're winners too.