Barcelona and Argentina star Lionel Messi romped home to the prestigious 2009 European Footballer of the Year award on Monday night.
The 22-year-old garnered a staggering 473 out of a possible 480 points in the voting, well ahead of Real Madrid and Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who netted 233 points.
The winner is chosen by journalists from around the world and the competition run by France Football magazine, with the prize known as the Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball).
It was always going to be tough for opponents to knock Messi off top spot in a year in which Barca won the treble of the Spanish La Liga, UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey.
Messi became the first Argentine to lift the trophy since it's inception in 1956, having finished runner-up to Ronaldo last year.