Guess who won the inaugural FIFA Men’s World Player of the Year? Lionel Messi. Who were the 2nd and 3rd placed players? His Barcelona teammates Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

To be honest, it’s getting a little depressing, cos they’re just so darn good. In the same gala ceremony, the FIFA 2010 World XI best players were announced, and SIX players were from Barcelona!

It’s totally deserved, of course. I’ve been a HUGE fan of Xavi for the longest time, and having met Lionel Messi last year, seeing him work some of his magic with a ball up-close, there’s no way I can say anything bad about him either, right? =P

Me and the new FIFA Player of the Year =P This ain't a Ryan Babel-style photoshop, btw...

But for the rest of the football world, it is getting a bit depressing knowing  that if your team gets stuck in a competition with them, you’re pretty much screwed.

Every team that plays Barcelona in the league are flooding their penalty area with bodies (regardless of whether they’re at home or away). They’re not even covering midfield any more, cos there’s really no point trying to beat Xavi in his own stomping ground. He will make you look like a right fool.

Xavi would surely have won more personal accolades for his incredible talent were it not for his Barcelona teammate Messi.

And still, Barcelona always find a way to score some fantastic goals through that sea of defenders in the area. It’s not like they’re using some Plan B to score either (which is some vindication for Arsene Wenger’s philosophy), like lugging the ball into the area and hoping it drops for someone.

They’ve been scoring goals with passing so precise it’s like brain surgery. They cut through spaces so small, and angles so tight, it’s like they’re some footballing contortionists-meet-Harlem Globetrotters freakshow. 

It seems like there’s nothing you can do to stop them. If Jose Mourinho can’t figure out a way to stop you, then you’ve gotta be doing something right, right?

Anyway, here’s a list of winners from that FIFA thingy:

• FIFA Men’s World Player of the Year: Lionel Messi
• FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year: Marta
• FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football: Jose Mourinho
• FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football: Silvia Neid
• FIFA FIFPro World XI of 2010: Iker Casillas; Maicon, Gerard Pique, Lucio, Carles Puyol; Xavi, Wesley Sneijder, Andres Iniesta; Cristiano Ronaldo, David Villa, Lionel Messi
• FIFA Puskas Award: Hamit Altintop
• FIFA Fair Play Award: Haiti Under-17 women’s team
• FIFA Presidential Award: Archbishop Desmond Tutu

What do you guys think of the World XI? Not too sure about Lucio’s inclusion, to be honest… Who would YOUR 2010 World XI be?