Snapshot: Lionel Messi Lands Third Straight Ballon d’Or, Turns Out In Marvellous Purple Velvet Jacket

By Chris Wright

Given that it was pretty much a forgone conclusion, FIFA took their sweet time in surprising precisely nobody and bestowing Lionel Messi with their World Player of the Year award for the third time on the spin in Switzerland yesterday.

Messi beat Cristiano Ronaldo and Barca teammate Xavi (with whom he vowed to share the award) to the Ballon d'Or and he also went all Noël Coward on our backsides on the night, sporting a rather fetching purple velvet smoking jacket for the occassion just because, y'know, he can.

Read the full article at Who Ate All the Pies.

Who Ate All the Pies @ Jan 10, 2012 5:58 AM EDT | Blog Profile