![Barcelona's soccer player Lionel Messi of Argentina kisses the 2009 Ballon d 'Or trophy in Paris December 6, 2009. The award was presented by the French magazine France Football. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier (FRANCE SPORT Barcelona's soccer player Lionel Messi of Argentina kisses the 2009 Ballon d 'Or trophy in Paris December 6, 2009. The award was presented by the French magazine France Football. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier (FRANCE SPORT](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2E7JXPE/barcelonas-soccer-player-lionel-messi-of-argentina-kisses-the-2009-ballon-dor-trophy-in-paris-december-6-2009-the-award-was-presented-by-the-french-magazine-france-football-reutersbenoit-tessier-france-sport-soccer-2E7JXPE.jpg)
Barcelona's soccer player Lionel Messi of Argentina kisses the 2009 Ballon d 'Or trophy in Paris December 6, 2009. The award was presented by the French magazine France Football. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier (FRANCE SPORT
![FC Barcelona on Twitter: "#OnThisDay | December 1, 2009 10 years ago today, a 22-year-old phenom named Lionel #Messi was awarded his first Ballon d'Or. It would not be his last. 🐐 FC Barcelona on Twitter: "#OnThisDay | December 1, 2009 10 years ago today, a 22-year-old phenom named Lionel #Messi was awarded his first Ballon d'Or. It would not be his last. 🐐](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EKsJXc-WkAAAAxH.jpg:large)
FC Barcelona on Twitter: "#OnThisDay | December 1, 2009 10 years ago today, a 22-year-old phenom named Lionel #Messi was awarded his first Ballon d'Or. It would not be his last. 🐐
![Lionel Messi wins Ballon d'Or by record margin as Barcelona dominate voting | Barcelona | The Guardian Lionel Messi wins Ballon d'Or by record margin as Barcelona dominate voting | Barcelona | The Guardian](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club%20Home/2009/5/27/1243457118582/Lionel-Messi-001.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctYWdlLTIwMDkucG5n&enable=upscale&s=eea0014982f97ebf8c85d0ff3ab4b615)
Lionel Messi wins Ballon d'Or by record margin as Barcelona dominate voting | Barcelona | The Guardian
![Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi receiving the European footballer of the year award, the 'Ballon d' Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi receiving the European footballer of the year award, the 'Ballon d'](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2E4H33E/barcelonas-argentinian-forward-lionel-messi-receiving-the-european-footballer-of-the-year-award-the-ballon-dor-golden-ball-in-boulogne-billancourt-near-paris-france-on-december-6-2009-photo-by-pierre-tremoussaabacapresscom-2E4H33E.jpg)