Gilded Messi takes seat among greats

A combination of images from 2010 to 2013 (left to right) shows Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi posing with his four consecutive Ballon d'Or trophies. Messi added yet another record to his stellar list of achievements over the past 12 months on Monday when he won an unprecedented fourth consecutive Ballon d'Or at a FIFA gala in Zurich. The accolade seals Messi's status as the greatest player of his generation after he saw off Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta for the prize. Agence France-Presse