Messi claims Golden Ball award

PARIS – Argentina’s Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball awarded to the European Footballer of the Year with the biggest margin ever on Tuesday following an exceptional season with Barcelona.

Messi became the sixth Barcelona player to take the award and the first since Brazilian Ronaldinho in 2005. He beat last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo into second place while Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez finished third in the poll results released by France Football.

Hailed by Argentina great Diego Maradona as his successor, Messi won an unprecedented treble in Spain last season with Barcelona as the Catalan side swept the Champions League, the Spanish title and the Copa del Rey.           (AP)