ZURICH (Agencies) Already considered one of soccer's greats at age 24, Lionel Messi became the first person to win FIFA player of the year three times in a row. The Barcelona and Argentina forward received the FIFA Ballon d'Or award for 2011, winning out over club teammate Xavi Hernandez and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo for the sport's top individual honor. "It's a huge pleasure for me," Messi said, after accepting the trophy from another three-time winner, retired Brazilian forward Ronaldo. "It's the third time I get this award, and it's a huge honor." The only other three-time winners are Ronaldo (1996-97 and 2002) and Zinedine Zidane (1998, 2000 and 2003). The FIFA award was renamed last year, when it merged with France Football's Golden Ball. Messi scored 55 goals in 2011 for Barcelona, which won its third Champions League title in six seasons, and he had four goals for Argentina's national team. Barcelona won five trophies last year.>>>
