4th FIFA Ballon d'Or for Messi in a row

ZURICH: Argentina and Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi won a record breaking fourth consecutive FIFA Ballon d'Or at a ceremony in Zurich.

Other contenders for the prestigious award were Spain and Barcelona midfielder Andres Inesta and Real Madrid's Portuguese front man Cristiano Ronaldo.

2012 turned out to be a remarkable year for Messi as he broke Gerd Muller's 40-year old record of 85 goals in a calendar year scoring an astonishing 91 times.

His 91 goals in the year 2012 include 50 goals in the La Liga season and a record 14 goals in the Champions League season. He also became the only player to score 5 goals in a Champions League match.

Messi's fourth award takes him past the three won by both former Brazil striker Ronaldo and former France midfielder Zinedine Zidane.