2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or: Lionel Messi Secures Third Consecutive Title
The 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or, the second iteration of the joint awards presented by FIFA and France Football, celebrated the pinnacle of global football achievement. Held on 9 January 2012 in Zürich, Switzerland, the gala recognized the most outstanding players and coaches of the year in a ceremony that blended sporting prestige with entertainment.
The event was hosted by former Ballon d'Or winner Ruud Gullit and journalist Kay Murray, with musical performances provided by singer-songwriter James Blunt and his band. The evening's primary highlight was the coronation of Lionel Messi, who claimed the title of world player of the year for the third consecutive time.
ไม่มีภาพประกอบKey Facts
- Winner: Lionel Messi won his 3rd Ballon d'Or with 47.88% of the vote.
- Women's Winner: Homare Sawa of Japan was named FIFA Women's World Player of the Year.
- Top Coaches: Pep Guardiola (Men) and Norio Sasaki (Women) took home the coaching honors.
- Puskás Award: Neymar won the award for the most beautiful goal of the year.
- Location: The ceremony took place in Zürich, Switzerland.
The Race for the Men's Ballon d'Or
The competition for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or was dominated by a familiar rivalry. Lionel Messi of Barcelona secured a decisive victory, nearly doubling the vote percentage of his closest competitor. Xavi, Messi's teammate at Barcelona, rounded out the top three, marking a strong showing for the Spanish club.
Men's Top Three Finalists
| Rank | Player | National Team | Club | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Barcelona | 47.88% |
| 2nd | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Real Madrid | 21.60% |
| 3rd | Xavi | Spain | Barcelona | 9.23% |
Beyond the top three, the shortlist featured 20 other elite players, including Andrés Iniesta (4th) and Wayne Rooney (5th), reflecting a year of immense talent across Europe's top leagues.
Women's World Player and Coaching Excellence
In the women's category, Japan's Homare Sawa was crowned the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year, receiving 28.51% of the vote. She beat out Brazil's Marta and the United States' Abby Wambach.
The coaching awards recognized tactical brilliance on both sides of the game. Pep Guardiola of Barcelona won the Men's World Coach of the Year with 41.90% of the vote, while Norio Sasaki of Japan claimed the Women's World Coach of the Year title with 45.57%.
Special Awards and the World XI
The ceremony also distributed several specialized honors to recognize exceptional skill and sportsmanship:
- FIFA Puskás Award: Awarded to Neymar (Santos) for the most aesthetically pleasing goal.
- FIFA Presidential Award: Presented to Sir Alex Ferguson.
- FIFA Fair Play Award: Awarded to the Japan Football Association.
The FIFA/FIFPro World XI, a team composed of the best players in each position as voted by their peers, featured a strong Spanish presence with Iker Casillas, Gerard Piqué, Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso, Andrés Iniesta, and Xavi all making the cut.
Controversy Regarding Voting
Despite the celebration, the event was followed by a minor controversy. The Spanish newspaper Marca reported that the four captains of the Spanish women's national team had failed to vote for the Women's World Player of the Year. However, FIFA's published voting records contradicted this, showing that captain Sandra Vilanova had indeed cast her votes, awarding five points to Hope Solo, three to Louisa Nécib, and one to Marta.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or?
Lionel Messi won the award, marking his third consecutive time being named the world player of the year.
Which coach won the Men's World Coach of the Year in 2011?
Pep Guardiola of Barcelona won the award with 41.90% of the vote.
Who received the FIFA Puskás Award for 2011?
The award for the most beautiful goal was won by Neymar of Santos.
Who was the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year in 2011?
Homare Sawa of Japan won the title with 28.51% of the voting.
Where and when was the 2011 ceremony held?
The gala took place on 9 January 2012 in Zürich, Switzerland.