2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala

Lionel Messi was voted the world's best player for an unprecedented fourth straight year for his 91-goal year for Barcelona and Argentina in 2012. U.S. women's national team star striker Abby Wambach won the FIFA Women's World Player award.

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Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi receives the FIFA Ballon d'Or award during the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / OLIVIER MORIN (Photo credit should read OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images)
Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi receives the FIFA Ballon d'Or award during the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / OLIVIER MORIN (Photo credit should read OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images)