Messi set to win 3rd straight world player honour

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Messi set to win 3rd straight world player honour

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Lionel Messi heads a three-player shortlist, alongside Xavi Hernandez and Cristiano Ronaldo.

08 January,2012 02:21 am

Lionel Messis claim to a place in footballs pantheon of greats should be advanced Monday when the FIFA Ballon dOr trophy is awarded to the worlds best player in 2011.The Argentina forward heads a three-player shortlist, alongside Barcelona teammate Xavi Hernandez and Real Madrids Cristiano Ronaldo, and seeks to win for a third straight year.Only World Cup winners Zinedine Zidane of France and Brazils Ronaldo have won three times since FIFA created its world player award in 1991, now merged with the Ballon dOr presented by France Football magazine since 1956.Only France great Michel Platini ever won that trophy for three consecutive years.That Messi likely will have three awards by the age of 24 is even more remarkable.