Lionel Messi has been awarded the Ballon d'Or for the fourth successive year.
The Barcelona and Argentina forward was announced as the winner of the award given to the world's best player during a ceremony in Zurich on Monday.
The award was Messi's fourth successive Ballon d'Or
Messi, who scored 91 goals in 2012, beat his club team-mate Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid's Ronaldo to the awards, although his near century of strikes couldn't help Barcelona to win the Spanish league title or Champions League last season.
"It's a huge pleasure for me," Messi said, after accepting the trophy. "It's the third time I get this award and it's a huge honour."
The 25-year-old polled 41.6% of the votes with Ronaldo taking 23.68% and Iniesta 10.91%.
Abby Wambach won the women's award and Vicente del Bosque the coach accolade, while the team of the year was made up only of players from Spain's La Liga.
FIFA Gala
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Portugals Cristiano Ronaldo, right, arrives with his girlfriend Irina Shayk, left, on the red carpet prior to the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2013 held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Keystone/Walter Bieri) (credit:AP)
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Sweden's Pia Sundhage, former coach of the US women's soccer team and current head coach of Sweden's women's soccer team, arrives on the red carpet prior to the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2013 held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Keystone/Walter Bieri) (credit:AP)
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Brazil's Marta, right, and Italy's Fabio Cannavaro, left, arrive on the red carpet prior to the FIFA Ballon d'Or soccer Gala 2013 held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. (KAP Photo/Keystone/Walter Bieri) (credit:AP)
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Argentina's Lionel Messi arrives on the red carpet prior to the FIFA Ballon d'Or soccer Gala 2013 held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Keystone/Walter Bieri) (credit:AP)
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ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 07: (L-R) Joseph Blatter, FIFA president and actor Gerard Depardieu pose during the red carpet arrivals for the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala 2012 on January 7, 2013 at Congress House in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu takes a picture upon arrival at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / SEBASTIEN BOZON (Photo credit should read SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 07: (L-R) Joseph Blatter, FIFA president and actor Gerard Depardieu pose during the red carpet arrivals for the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala 2012 on January 7, 2013 at Congress House in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu (R) shares a joke with FIFA President Joseph Blatter as they arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) and French actor Gerard Depardieu arrive at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu (R) points by FIFA President Joseph Blatter as they arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu (R) points by FIFA President Joseph Blatter as they arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu (R) and FIFA President Joseph Blatter arrive at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / SEBASTIEN BOZON (Photo credit should read SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu (C) arrives at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / SEBASTIEN BOZON (Photo credit should read SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu (C) and FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) arrive at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / SEBASTIEN BOZON (Photo credit should read SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) and French actor Gerard Depardieu share a joke on arrival at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu (R) and FIFA President Joseph Blatter arrive at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / SEBASTIEN BOZON (Photo credit should read SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu (R) and FIFA President Joseph Blatter (C) arrive at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / SEBASTIEN BOZON (Photo credit should read SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) and French actor Gerard Depardieu share a joke on arrival at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu arrives at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / SEBASTIEN BOZON (Photo credit should read SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 07: (L-R) Joseph Blatter, FIFA president and actor Gerard Depardieu pose during the red carpet arrivals for the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala 2012 on January 7, 2013 at Congress House in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph Blatter (R) and French actor Gerard Depardieu wait for the start of the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / OLIVIER MORIN (Photo credit should read OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu (R) and FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) arrive at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / SEBASTIEN BOZON (Photo credit should read SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 07: (L-R) Joseph Blatter, FIFA president and actor Gerard Depardieu pose during the red carpet arrivals for the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala 2012 on January 7, 2013 at Congress House in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) and French actor Gerard Depardieu arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) and French actor Gerard Depardieu arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) and French actor Gerard Depardieu arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) and French actor Gerard Depardieu arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) and French actor Gerard Depardieu arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph "Sepp" Blatter, left, and French-Russian actor Gerard Depardieu, right, arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2013 held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. French actor Gerard Depardieu has received a Russian passport after he sought Russian citizenship as part of his battle against a proposed super tax on millionaires in France. (AP Photo/Keystone/Walter Bieri) (credit:AP)
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FIFA President Joseph "Sepp" Blatter, left, and French-Russian actor Gerard Depardieu, right, arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2013 held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. French actor Gerard Depardieu has received a Russian passport after he sought Russian citizenship as part of his battle against a proposed super tax on millionaires in France. (AP Photo/Keystone/Steffen Schmidt) (credit:AP)
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FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) speaks with French actor Gerard Depardieu (C) prior to the start of the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 7, 2013. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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FIFA President Joseph "Sepp" Blatter, left, and French-Russian actor Gerard Depardieu, right, arrive for the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2013 held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. French actor Gerard Depardieu had received a Russian passport after he sought Russian citizenship as part of his battle against a proposed super tax on millionaires in France. (AP Photo/Keystone/Steffen Schmidt) (credit:AP)