Barcelona’s Lionel Messi has been crowned 2009 European Player of the Year by a landslide margin, after picking up 473 points out of a possible 480, to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or.

Messi beat Cristiano Ronaldo into second place, with the Real Madrid Galactico collecting 233 points, while Messi’s Barcelona team-mates, midfielders Xavi and Andres Iniesta were third and fourth respectively.

The Argentine ace scored 38 goals in all competitions last season and won the Champions League, the Spanish championship and Spanish cup with Barcelona.

Last 10 winners of the Ballon d’Or:

2000 -- Luis Figo (Portugal)
2001 -- Michael Owen (England)
2002 – Ronaldo (Brazil)
2003 -- Pavel Nedved (Czech Republic)
2004 -- Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine)
2005 -- Ronaldinho (Brazil)
2006 -- Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)
2007 -- Kaka (Brazil)
2008 -- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
2009 -- Lionel Messi (Argentina)