Messi, chosen as the best player of the year

Spain, December 27, 2010

Lionel Messi won the award of best athlete of the year, ahead from international figures such as Roger Federer, Kobe Bryant, Vettel and Haile Gebrselassie, voted for seventy Spanish athletes.

He was not elected as athlete of the season, but was the most voted by his colleagues in a survey done to Spanish athletes sponsored by the daily El Pais.

Pau Gasol, Fernando Alonso, Busquets, Casillas, Torres, Iniesta, Nadal, among others were part of the vote that the Argentine won.

The athletes of the survey were invited to vote for the best Spanish athlete (Rafael Nadal), international sportsman (Lionel Messi), and best event of the year, the World Cup final being chosen by 82 % of the athletes.