2010 was a defining year in world football.
The beautiful game saw epic battles — the World Cup in South Africa, Messi’s brilliance at Barcelona, Sneijder’s treble with Inter Milan, Spain’s dominance, and more.
This setting made the Ballon d’Or Rankings 2010 as heated and debated as ever.
Who was the best? Who deserved it? In this article, we’ll explore who was crowned, why Messi won, and what the top 10 looked like.
Who Was Crowned Ballon d’Or 2010?
Lionel Messi was crowned the 2010 FIFA Ballon d’Or winner.
- The award was announced in January 2011 (for the 2010 calendar year).
- Messi’s win marked his second consecutive Ballon d’Or (after winning in 2009).
Read also: Ballon d’Or 2008 Rankings: Messi or Ronaldo?
Messi Ballon d’Or Winner 2010 — How and Why He Earned It
Why did Messi win in 2010, despite strong competition? Here are the main reasons based on global media & statistics:
- Club performance
- At Barcelona, Messi was in scintillating form. He helped his club win La Liga and delivered consistently.
- He scored a high number of goals in all competitions (47 in the 2009-10 season) which boosted his case.
- Individual stats & Awards
- He won the European Golden Shoe in 2010 for being the top league scorer in Europe.
- His personal consistency, ability to win critical matches, his influence in both domestic and international competitions were cited by many media outlets.
- Competition from teammates and rivals
- Andrés Iniesta and Xavi — both of Barcelona and Spain — were close behind in voting. Iniesta was especially praised for his contributions to Spain’s 2010 World Cup win.
- Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan) is often mentioned in hindsight as a strong contender — some commentators believed Sneijder had one of the best individual + team years (treble + World Cup final) and might even have deserved the trophy.
- Vote margins
- Messi received 22.65% of the votes, Iniesta got ~17.36%, Xavi ~16.48%.
- Though critics argued the margin was not overwhelming, it was enough to clear him ahead. Media coverage often focused on whether the narrative (World Cup + team success) should favor Iniesta or Sneijder, but Messi’s overall statistical supremacy tipped the scales.
Ballon d’Or Rankings 2010: Top 10 Players
Here are the Top 10 players in the Ballon d’Or Rankings 2010 and their approximate vote percentages.
| Rank | Player | Club in 2010 | Nationality | Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina | 22.65 % |
| 2 | Andrés Iniesta | Barcelona | Spain | 17.36 % |
| 3 | Xavi | Barcelona | Spain | 16.48 % |
| 4 | Wesley Sneijder | Internazionale | Netherlands | 14.48 % |
| 5 | Diego Forlán | Atlético Madrid | Uruguay | 7.61 % |
| 6 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | Portugal | 3.92 % |
| 7 | Iker Casillas | Real Madrid | Spain | 2.90 % |
| 8 | David Villa | Valencia / Barcelona | Spain | 2.25 % |
| 9 | Didier Drogba | Chelsea | Ivory Coast | 1.68 % |
| 10 | Xabi Alonso | Real Madrid | Spain | 1.52 % |
In the Ballon d’Or Rankings 2010, Lionel Messi emerged as the winner — a result that drew both admiration and some controversy.
Don’t miss: Ballon d’Or 2009 Rankings: Messi or Ronaldo?
Given the world stage (World Cup), peer competition (Iniesta, Xavi, Sneijder), and Messi’s remarkable individual achievements, many media outlets judged the decision fair though close.
Iniesta and Xavi’s proximity in votes reflects how influential they were, but Messi’s goal-scoring, consistency, and impact across multiple competitions sealed it.
