On 1 December, France Football magazine announced Lionel Messi was the winner of the 2009 Ballon d'Or, thus making him the ninth player while playing at Barcelona and the first Argentine and canterano from La Masia to win the coveted footballer prize [REF].
On 16 May, Messi completed the 2009-10 as the Pichichi Throphy and the European Golden Shoe winner with 34 league goals [REF].