After a wonderful 2009 on the football field, Lionel Messi has completed his year in style by winning the Fifa World Player of the Year award in Zurich.

Messi beat Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka to the award, along with team mates Iniesta and Xavi. Capturing the perfect year for him after winning La Liga, Copa Del Rey, Champions League and most recently being the pivotal force of Pep Guardiola’s all conquering Barcelona squad that defeated Estudiantes in FIFA’s Club World Cup final in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Messi will add FIFA’s prestigious title to his Ballon D’or award and his UEFA Club Footballer of the Year crown.

The gap between first and second (Ronaldo) was the highest it’s ever been since the creation of the award back in 1991. Messi scored a record 1073 points, to Ronaldo’s 352. Naturally, Leo was in the FIFA World XI for 2009 which was also revealed at the ceremony.

Speaking before the announcement, Messi said “It is a great joy to be here for the 3rd consecutive year. It is the culmination of a year that cannot be improved upon.” Once the trophy was presented Messi remaked the following: “No, please, I am not king of the world now, nor the number one, I don’t believe in those things. I am the same person as always and I have the good fortune to play in a great team. It was an historic year for Barca and for me but it’s thanks to the work of everyone.”

Speaking to Marca after the FIFA World Club Cup win, and winning a record six competitions in one calender year, the Argentine said “We have not yet realized what we have done. It will be difficult for another team to repeat it.” Messi then spoke of the final itself, saying that, “It was very complicated, because Estudiantes has a lot of great players. They are very organized and play very fast.”

Yet another personal accolade was added to Messi’s collection on this day too, as in a ceremony after the match, Messi was handed the Golden Ball award for the best player of the tournament, having finished the tournament with two goals, one of which was the winner in the final.

The Silver award went to Juan Sebastian Veron, the veteran midfielder, who was still the major driving force behind Estudiantes. Finally, the bronze award went to Xavi the midfield maestro of Barcelona.

Barcelona became the first club in the history of world football to win six competitive tournaments within one calender year. They had already bagged La Liga, Copa Del Rey, UEFA Champions League, Supercopa De Espanya and the UEFA Super Cup going into todays FIFA World Club Cup Final against Estudiantes.

It was the Argentines who struck first, with the Catalan rear guard looking frail once again. Juan Diaz put in an inch perfect cross from the left and Mauro Boselli got in between his two markers, Eric Abidal and Carles Puyol, to bury his header past Victor Valdes. The goal came totally against the run of play but the half time score remained 1-0 to Estudiantes.

Pep Guardiola responded by introducing Pedro on the wing but Barcelona couldn’t find the goal they needed. Ibrahimovic and Pedro went closest, both spurning good chances when in on goal. However, Barcelona were not to be denied, as Gerard Pique headed on a long ball from Ibrahimovic to Pedro, who made no mistake in looping his header over the keeper and into the goal in the 89th minute. This meant the game would be decided by extra time or penalties.

Barcelona dominated the extra period, with Messi curling a free kick over the bar, and the Argentine and Ibrahimovic both failing to hit the target with further openings. The goal was to eventually come in the 110th minute, as Dani Alves’ pin-point cross picked out Messi, who lunged forward to divert the ball into the goal with his chest.

In the Post-Match press conference, a journalist jokingly asked Pep Guardiola if the team had been practising Messi’s chested goal routine. “Oh we’ve been training that routine every single day” Pep replied. “In fact at half time I took Leo aside and told him I wanted a goal from him from that came from his heart. He scored that goal with his heart.”

Lionel Messi was fit enough to come off the substitutes bench and score a goal as Barcelona defeated Mexican side Atlante 3-1 to reach the final of the Club World Cup.

Things did not start well for the Catalans with Guillermo Rojas latching onto a ball which split the Barca back line, before lofting the ball over Valdes for an early lead. Barcelona maintained a high level of possession throughout the first half, and eventually were able to equalise through Sergio Busquets who lashed in from a set piece.

Pep Guardiola introduced the Argentine Messi after 52 minutes, and the decision paid dividends as he scored a goal shortly after his arrival. A perfect through ball from Zlatan Ibrahimovic put Messi through on goal, and he was able to go round the goalkeeper and slot into the goal to put the Blaugrana in the lead.

Pedro was able to add a third goal as Barcelona ran out comfortable winners. They will face the Copa Libertaores winners – the Argentinian Estudiantes – in Sundays final.