Barcelona player assured of winning FIFA Ballon d'Or with Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi in contention
![Barcelona trio Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta shortlisted for Fifa Ballon d'Or | The Independent | The Independent Barcelona trio Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta shortlisted for Fifa Ballon d'Or | The Independent | The Independent](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2010/12/06/11/510706.jpg?width=1200&height=1200)
Barcelona trio Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta shortlisted for Fifa Ballon d'Or | The Independent | The Independent
![Roy Nemer on Twitter: "On this day 10 years ago. Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta at the Ballon d'Or. Back when Barcelona truly were kings. Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or Roy Nemer on Twitter: "On this day 10 years ago. Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta at the Ballon d'Or. Back when Barcelona truly were kings. Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ErYnDI_XUAAAKXN.jpg)
Roy Nemer on Twitter: "On this day 10 years ago. Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta at the Ballon d'Or. Back when Barcelona truly were kings. Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or
![Barcelona's Lionel Messi poses with his Ballon d'Or trophy, the World Player of the Year award, next to his teammates Andres Iniesta (L) and Xavi Hernandez before their Spanish King's Cup soccer Barcelona's Lionel Messi poses with his Ballon d'Or trophy, the World Player of the Year award, next to his teammates Andres Iniesta (L) and Xavi Hernandez before their Spanish King's Cup soccer](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2CX8288/barcelonas-lionel-messi-poses-with-his-ballon-dor-trophy-the-world-player-of-the-year-award-next-to-his-teammates-andres-iniesta-l-and-xavi-hernandez-before-their-spanish-kings-cup-soccer-match-against-real-betis-at-nou-camp-stadium-in-barcelona-january-12-2011-reutersgustau-nacarinospain-tags-sport-soccer-2CX8288.jpg)
Barcelona's Lionel Messi poses with his Ballon d'Or trophy, the World Player of the Year award, next to his teammates Andres Iniesta (L) and Xavi Hernandez before their Spanish King's Cup soccer
![Barcelona | Iniesta: France Football regrets never handing over Ballon d'Or Iniesta: France Football regrets never handing over Ballon d'Or - AS USA Barcelona | Iniesta: France Football regrets never handing over Ballon d'Or Iniesta: France Football regrets never handing over Ballon d'Or - AS USA](https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/gFxoZ97wi8hC-DVC-i0ls7PYDlU=/1952x1098/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/diarioas/BF3M7JJ2EVMVDNVVO7JW4GTXAU.jpg)
Barcelona | Iniesta: France Football regrets never handing over Ballon d'Or Iniesta: France Football regrets never handing over Ballon d'Or - AS USA
![Barcelona | Iniesta: France Football regrets never handing over Ballon d'Or Iniesta: France Football regrets never handing over Ballon d'Or - AS USA Barcelona | Iniesta: France Football regrets never handing over Ballon d'Or Iniesta: France Football regrets never handing over Ballon d'Or - AS USA](https://cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/diarioas/PD2ZB3RLCVPZHMQ7ET2D2SGFE4.jpg)
Barcelona | Iniesta: France Football regrets never handing over Ballon d'Or Iniesta: France Football regrets never handing over Ballon d'Or - AS USA
![FIFA Men's Ballon d'Or of the Year 2010 nominees Andres Iniesta of Spain, Lionel Messi of Argentina and Xavi of Spain (L-R) attend a press conference before the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala FIFA Men's Ballon d'Or of the Year 2010 nominees Andres Iniesta of Spain, Lionel Messi of Argentina and Xavi of Spain (L-R) attend a press conference before the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2E65X7X/fifa-mens-ballon-dor-of-the-year-2010-nominees-andres-iniesta-of-spain-lionel-messi-of-argentina-and-xavi-of-spain-l-r-attend-a-press-conference-before-the-fifa-ballon-dor-gala-in-zurich-january-10-2011-reuterschristian-hartmann-switzerland-tags-sport-soccer-2E65X7X.jpg)
FIFA Men's Ballon d'Or of the Year 2010 nominees Andres Iniesta of Spain, Lionel Messi of Argentina and Xavi of Spain (L-R) attend a press conference before the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala
![B/R Football on Twitter: "11 years ago today, Leo Messi beat Barça teammates Andrés Iniesta and Xavi to the Ballon d'Or. It was the first and only time in history the podium B/R Football on Twitter: "11 years ago today, Leo Messi beat Barça teammates Andrés Iniesta and Xavi to the Ballon d'Or. It was the first and only time in history the podium](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FIvjMyTXoAQTL8a.jpg:large)