The Associated Press reports that Messi received 22.65 percent of the votes, while FC Barcelona teammates Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez received 17.36 and 16.48, respectively.
Although Messi failed to lead Argentina deep into the World Cup, his club teammates won the FIFA World Cup with Spain. Iniesta scored the game-winning goal in overtime versus Netherlands in the finals.
Despite the Argentinian’s disappointing scoreless World Cup, voters elected Messi for the award due to his spectacular season with FC Barcelona.
The 23-year-old Messi led Barcelona to the Spanish Primera League title and also scored 58 goals with the team in 2010.
