UEFA President Michel Platini (L) and FIFA President Sepp Blatter (R) applaud Lionel Messi of Argentina as he holds his trophy of the FIFA Men's World Player of the Year 2009 soccer award during a ceremony in Zurich December 21, 2009. Lionel Messi became the first Argentine to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award on Monday.

But his only international triumph was an Olympic gold medal in2006, and he will have to play much better for his country to lead Argentina to a third World Cup and its first since Maradona inspired victory in 1986. The women's award went to Brazil's Marta for the fourth year in a row. The 23-year-old playmaker beat teammate Cristiane, Kelly Smith of England, and Germans Birgit Prinz and Inka Grings.

The late England player and manager Bobby Robson received FIFA's fair play award, while the presidential award for contributions to football and society went to Jordan's Queen Rania.

FIFA announced its first World XI men's team, which included six players from the Spanish La Liga and five from the English Premier League.

Real Madrid's Iker Casillas was chosen as goalkeeper, with Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra joining Chelsea's John Terry and Barcelona's Dani Alves in defense. Xavi, Iniesta and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard were picked as midfielders, with Messi, Ronaldo and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres in attack.

Ronaldo was honored at the gala for scoring the

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