Van Persie tops player poll, Barcelona top team
Both players scored twice, but Van Persie's acrobatic volley and long-range goal.
LONDON (AP) - Robin van Persie held off last year s winner Lionel Messi to be voted player of the week in the first round of The Associated Press global football poll.
Both players scored twice, but Van Persie s acrobatic volley and long-range goal in Manchester United s 4-1 win over Swansea in the Premier League gave the Dutchman the edge over Messi by 10 points.
Monaco forward Emmanuel Riviere, who scored his first career hat trick in the 4-1 win over Montpellier in the French league, finished third.
Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas took fourth place after being instrumental in Barcelona s 7-0 thrashing of Levante in the Spanish league. Barcelona won 221 of 230 points to finish in front of United, Chelsea, Juventus and Monaco in the team poll.
