Lionel Messi won the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2009. He became the first Barcelona player to receive the men’s award, capping a remarkable season with the club.
The award was presented on 21 December 2009 after Messi helped Barcelona win an unprecedented six trophies in 2009: La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the UEFA Champions League, the Spanish Super Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. His performances made him the clear winner in the final voting.
Messi collected 1,073 points, finishing well ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, who placed second with 352 points. Barcelona teammates Xavi and Andrés Iniesta also finished in the top five, reflecting the strength of the team that dominated European football that year.
The FIFA World Player of the Year award was later merged with France Football’s Ballon d’Or from 2010 through 2015, becoming the FIFA Ballon d’Or. FIFA eventually introduced The Best FIFA Men’s Player award in 2016, so the 2009 honour belongs to the earlier award’s distinct history.