'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Lionel Messi continued to add laurels next to his name after bagging the Goal 50 award for the World’s best footballer for the third time in his illustrious career.
The ‘Messiah’ who had won the award in 2008/09 and 2010/11, topped the list this year ahead of France’s Franck Ribery in second place and Portuguese sensation Cristiano Ronaldo, who finished in third position.
The Goal 50 is regarded as one of the most credible and respected awards in sport because it is chosen by the world’s biggest soccer website. Over 500 journalists from across the globe vote to select their top 50 best footballer’s in the world at the end of domestic and international seasons for majority of the countries.
The 26-year-old Argentinian forward smashed Gerd Muller’s 40-year-old record of 85 goals, by scoring 91 goals in 2012 alone, elevating his overall count to 313 by the end of the season for Barcelona.
Other football stars who feature in the list are Brazilian ace Neymar at 14th position and Spanish playmaker Andres Iniesta who managed to grab the 19th spot.
