The genius of Barcelona, Lionel Messi, is once again the major favorite for the Ballon d’Or which will be awarded tonight in Zurich, which would make the 25 years old Argentinian the first player in history to receive four times this award. In Messi’s case, he will also add to the record by becoming the only player in history to win it four times in a row.

Messi shows off his three France Football Ballon d’Or. Will he get his fourth one tonight?

With four Golden Ball, the most prestigious individual honor, “Leo” would be alone in the world in the history of football.

So far, three Golden Ball, the “pulga” (“The Flea”, a nickname inherited from its small size, 1.69 m) had his name alongside legends Michel Platini, the only player to have won three in a row, and Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten, who had also gleaned three, but not consecutively.

No, Messi has not won the Champions League last year or the Liga. But the classy player scored 91 goals for the calendar year 2012, referring to the previous record of oblivion German Gerd Müller, who had signed him 85 achievements in 1972, another time.

The other two finalists for the Ballon d’Or, the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) and Spanish Andres Iniesta (Barcelona) are also geniuses of football. But they were born into the wrong generation, under the rule of King Messi.

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 46 goals in the Spanish league last season, but Messi still beats him with … 50 goals! The Portuguese also won La Liga with Real Madrid and took his team to the semifinals of Euro 2012.

But the Ballon d’Or 2008 seems to reason out. “I’d love to win, really, the Ballon d’Or. But life does not stop if I do not win. This is not so serious,” said “CR7” early January.

Crisiano Ronaldo still has a chance to win the France Football Ballon d’Or 2012 but the competition with Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta will be fierce tonight in Zurich

Messi is a breath of fresh air in the hyper-individualistic world of football. “The high quality of Leo is that he continues to play like he played cadets. This is the difference,” and welcome to Barca coach Tito Vilanova, who was also his teacher in the cadets in the Masia, Nursery Barça.

Iniesta is one of the great architects of the Spain team and played a major part in the Euro-2008/Mondial-2010/Euro-2012. Iniesta, named best player of Euro 2012 and UEFA best player of the 2011-12 season, is also one of those rare humble stars.

“My record of 85 goals in 60 matches, which stood since 1972, was beaten by the best player in the world, Lionel Messi, and I’m very happy for him,” recently said Gerd Müller, describing the Argentine “as an amazing player, a giant who is also very friendly and professional. ”

Ronaldo, “true”, the former glory of the Selecao, former double Ballon d’Or, also said that “Messi is still one step ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo.”

Asked if he was jealous of Messi, the former “Phenomenon” said: “The awards Messi are quite justified- my pride not suffering me that he exceeds my record.

The real question for me is this: Lionel Messi has never won a World Cup. Last year he has not won the Liga and neither has he won the Champion’s League. Yes, he has beaten Gerd Muller’s record but will that be enough to crown him the most successful player in history? It is a tough decision to make. And you, what do you think? Does he deserve this award that will make him the only player in the history of football to achieve four Ballon d’Or in a row?

Andres Iniesta won the UEFA player of the year title earlier on this year and is a serious contender for the France Football Ballon d’Or 2012 awarded tonight

I don’t think he does. I don’t think it’s fair. Giving him the award tonight will crown him as the best player in history, and I don’t believe he deserves it. Sorry. Based on performance in club and national team, I would give it to Andres Iniesta.