The Golden Ball awarded to Lionel Messi is the seventh player receives Barcelona, Real Madrid and beyond and falls for a certificate of Juventus and Milan. For the thirteenth time, the award is given to a player who is playing in the Spanish league, which is close to the Italian, who leads the standings with 18 awards. It will be the first Ballon d'Argentine, since Alfredo di Stefano, who succeeded him in 1957 and 1959, as Spanish did. Until 1995, the prize is not open to non-European players. Since then I have achieved the Liberian George Weah (1995) and Brazilian Ronaldo (1997 and 2002), Rivaldo (1999), Ronaldinho (2005) and Kaka (2007). Winners of the Golden

Ball "for championships (in which they played when they were appointed), equipment and nationality of the winner. - By league: - Italy: 18 - Spain: 13 - Germany: 9 - England: 6 - Other: 8. - For clubs: Juventus (ITA): 8 Milan (ITA): 8 Barcelona (ESP): 7 Real Madrid (ESP): 6 Bayern Munich (GER): 5 Manchester United (ENG): 4 Hamburg (GER): 2 Dinamo Kiev (UKR) 2 Inter Milan (ITA): 2 - By nationality: Germany: 7 Netherlands: 7 England 7 France: 6 Brazil: 5 Italy: 5 Russia / USSR / Ukraine: 4 Spain / Portugal 3 Czech Republic: 2 For 1 (six countries): Argentina, Scotland, Hungary , Northern Ireland, Denmark, Bulgaria and Liberia. - Winners of more than a Golden Ball: Three: Johan Cruyff (NED): 71 and 73, Ajax / NED, 74, Barcelona / ESP Michel Platini (FRA): 83, 84, 85, Juventus Turin / ITA Marco van Basten (NED): 88, 89, 92, Milan. Two: Alfredo di Stefano (ESP): 57, 59, Real Madrid Franck Beckenbauer (GER): 72, 76, Bayern Munich Kevin Keegan (ENG): 78, 79, Hamburg Karl Heinz Rummenigge (GER): 80, 81 Bayern Munich Ronaldo (BRA): 97, Inter Milan, 2002, Real Madrid.