2011 was a golden chapter in football’s modern history.
Barcelona reached its artistic peak under Pep Guardiola, Spain continued its dominance after the World Cup, and Lionel Messi was rewriting the rulebook of attacking brilliance.
The Ballon d’Or Rankings 2011 became the ultimate reflection of that era, where Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Xavi Hernández stood at the summit of world football.
Who Was Crowned Ballon d’Or 2011?
Lionel Messi was crowned the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or winner.
- The award was handed out in January 2012, honoring performances from the 2011 calendar year.
- Messi’s triumph made it his third consecutive Ballon d’Or, a milestone that cemented his early dominance in the award’s history.
Don’t miss: Ballon d’Or 2009 Rankings: Messi or Ronaldo?
Messi Ballon d’Or Winner 2011 — Why He Was Untouchable
The decision in 2011 was less debated than the year before.
Messi was on another level, and here’s why he outshone every rival:
- Historic Club Season
- Messi was the architect of Barcelona’s success, scoring goals and providing assists at a relentless pace.
- He led Barça to win La Liga, the Champions League, and multiple domestic trophies, playing starring roles in every decisive match.
- Statistical Brilliance
- Messi scored an extraordinary 53 goals in all competitions in 2010-11.
- His ability to combine dribbling, creativity, and finishing made him the complete attacker.
- The Champions League Final Showcase
- The 2011 Champions League final at Wembley against Manchester United became Messi’s personal stage. His stunning long-range goal and overall performance left no doubt about his supremacy.
- Competition from Ronaldo and Xavi
- Cristiano Ronaldo had incredible numbers at Real Madrid, breaking La Liga’s single-season scoring record with 40 goals, and winning the Copa del Rey.
- Xavi continued to be the heartbeat of Barcelona’s midfield, controlling matches with precision passing and unmatched vision.
- Yet, neither could eclipse Messi’s all-round dominance in both domestic and European stages.
Ballon d’Or Rankings 2011: Top 10 Players
Here’s how the Top 10 shaped up in the Ballon d’Or Rankings 2011:
| Rank | Player | Club in 2011 | Nationality | Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | Argentina | 47.88 % |
| 2 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | Portugal | 21.60 % |
| 3 | Xavi Hernández | Barcelona | Spain | 9.23 % |
| 4 | Andrés Iniesta | Barcelona | Spain | 6.01 % |
| 5 | Wayne Rooney | Manchester United | England | 2.34 % |
| 6 | Robin van Persie | Arsenal | Netherlands | 1.68 % |
| 7 | Luis Suárez | Ajax / Liverpool | Uruguay | 1.54 % |
| 8 | Iker Casillas | Real Madrid | Spain | 1.29 % |
| 9 | Neymar | Santos | Brazil | 1.21 % |
| 10 | Mesut Özil | Real Madrid | Germany | 0.94 % |
The Ballon d’Or Rankings 2011 confirmed Lionel Messi’s unrivaled status at the time.
With three consecutive crowns, he became the youngest player to dominate the award so convincingly.
Read also: Ballon d’Or Rankings 2010 – Top 3 Players
Cristiano Ronaldo’s superhuman numbers and Xavi’s midfield mastery made the podium legendary, but Messi’s mixture of elegance, consistency, and match-winning brilliance made him untouchable.
