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    FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2012

    ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 07: Lionel Messi of Argentina receives the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2012 trophy and Abby Wambach of United States receives her FIFA womens player of the year trophy by Joseph Blatter, FIFA president (C) during the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2013 at Congress House on January 07, 2013 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

    2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala

    Lionel Messi was voted the world's best player for an unprecedented fourth straight year for his 91-goal year for Barcelona and Argentina in 2012. U.S. women's national team star striker Abby Wambach won the FIFA Women's World Player award.