Lionel Messi backs Barcelona teammates for new FIFA award
Barcelona striker Lionel Messi, one of the candidates to win FIFA's newly instated Ballon d'Or award, has backed several of his club teammates to win the vote.
Messi was one of three nominees for both France Football's Ballon d'Or and the FIFA world player of the year award in 2007 and 2008 before going on to win both in 2009.
This year, the two prizes have merged to become the FIFA Ballon d'Or, for which 23 players are nominated each season.
With 47 goals in 53 appearances for Barcelona last season, Messi is a clear favourite among the nominees, but the Argentine has said his Spanish teammates, who formed part of Spain's World Cup-winning team this summer, could beat him to it.
"It's clear to me that the World Cup will have a great impact, which will give my Spanish colleagues the edge," the 23-year-old told
FIFA.com. "If I don't win I sincerely hope it goes to one of my Barcelona team-mates. All the odds are in favour of Xavi [Hernandez] and Andres Iniesta. To be honest they are great people and great players who deserve it more than anybody."
In addition to Xavi and Iniesta, Barcelona's Dani Alves and David Villa have been shortlisted for the FIFA Ballon d'Or.
Pep Guardiola Messi's favourite for coach award
Messi also said his boss at Barcelona, Pep Guardiola, is his personal favourite among the many candidates to win FIFA's new coach award.
"I'd vote for Pep Guardiola, not just because of the trophies we have won, but because of his commitment and footballing philosophy. I have not forgotten Jose Mourinho, who, aside from winning the treble with Inter, has begun changing the face of Real Madrid.
However, I think that the World Cup may be decisive, and in that case, [Spain's] Vicente del Bosque and [Germany's] Joachim Loew will come to the fore."
The award ceremony is set to take place on 10 January 2011 in Zurich, Switzerland.
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