That’s right.

The FC Barcelona star grasped his third successive Ballon D’Or trophy today, beating out teammate Xavi Hernandez and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (who couldn’t attend due to match preparation.)

The Argentinean said at the FIFA World Players Gala, “It is a pleasure and honor to win this for the third time. Thanks to those who voted and all my teammates.”

Congrats to the other two nominees Xavi and Cristiano for having fantastic seasons as well.

Not only was the winner of the Ballon D’Or awarded but so was the FIFA Women’s Player of the Year. The nominees were Abby Wambach (USA), Marta (Brazil) and Homare Sawa (Japan).

This year’s award goes to Homare Sawa of Japan. Sawa led her national team to victory this year in the Women’s World Cup in Germany where she won the Golden Ball and Golden Shoe award.

Sawa’s country of Japan also won the FIFA Fair Play Award due to their reaction of the devastating earthquake and tsunami the country faced earlier in the year.

Mexican legend Hugo Sanchez presented Neymar the FIFA Puskas Award, which is determined by the player with the “most beautiful” goal of the year. Neymar beat out both Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney.

“I am very happy to be part of this party and have been competing with this two great players. I’m very grateful to God and all you. Enjoy this party.”

You can see Neymar’s outstanding goal here!

Now to the coach awards. Let’s start out with the FIFA Women’s Coach of the Year.

The nominees were Bruno Bini of France, Norio Sasaki of Japan and Pia Sundhage of Sweden.

Japan’s Norio Sasaki claimed the award with his efforts of leading his national team to victory when Japan beat the US in the final.

The FIFA Men’s Coach of the Year was won by FC Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola, who managed to win Champions League and the La Liga title last year. Pep beat out MUFC manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho.

Guardiola was quite humble after winning the award saying, “I would like to share this award with Mourinho and Ferguson. It is an honor. And all the coaches around the world who share this passion. And also to the thousands of people that over 100 years have worked and develop Barcelona. It is a privilege to be part of such an incredible club. And finally, I would like to dedicate this award to Tito Vilanova, my assistant, my colleague, my friend who can’t be here tonight. This is for you.”

Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t leave the Gala empty-handed. The MUFC legendary manager won the prestigious FIFA Presidential Award, presented by FIFA president Sepp Blatter. “This is very much appreciated. No matter the honor I get, I feel it’s been the recognition for the 25 years of Manchester United. They always shared my vision and passion. I’ve been a very lucky manager. That makes Manchester United such a special club. The courage to play and the courage to try and win is more important than anything.”

Individual awards aside, eleven players were selected to the FIFA/FIFAPro World XI which was presented by three-time World Cup Champion and football legend, Pele. The players selected are as follows:

Iker Casillas (Spain)

Sergio Ramos (Spain)

Gerard Pique (Spain)

Nemanja Vidic (Serbia)

Dani Alves (Brazil)

Andres Iniesta (Spain)

Xavi (Spain)

Xabi Alonso (Spain)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

Wayne Rooney (England)

Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Real Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane and Emilio Butragueno accepted players Xabi Alonso, Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo and Iker Casillas‘ awards on behalf of them due to preparation for their match against Malaga this week.

Stay tuned to Aerys Soccer for all your international football news!

All photos courtesy of FIFA.com

Two more days until the weekend folks! As it is December, it’s not hard to believe the rumor mill is still turning on transfers. Cristiano Ronaldo is getting more fancy cleats (surprise). MLS could be getting a team in Sacramento and does AC Milan’s boss really think Carlos Tevez is Ballon d’Or material? Find out in today’s Daily Kick Around!

Major League Soccer

As the league continues to grow and gain popularity in the states, MLS is always searching for the next big spot to plop an expansion team. Talks have already been heard of New York getting a second team, but now there is a rumor a group is talking about possibly putting a team in Elk Grove, Calif., a suburb of Sacramento. I wouldn’t hold my breath for this being within a year or so, but these guys seem to be serious.

D.C. United star Dwayne De Rosario can add another award to his MLS Golden Boot; he was named Canada’s men’s soccer player of the year. Congrats De Rosario!

Houston Dynamo fans have a new home with a new name. Yesterday, the team released the news that their stadium will be called BBVA Compass Stadium. It is the 14th soccer-specific stadium in the league.

La Liga

Being the best isn’t just about your skills on the pitch anymore. According to an article at The Post Game, Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has a new pair of cleats that will create “the illusion that Ronaldo is about to turn in one direction, when actually his feet are about to move a different way.” Huh.

If you live in Vietnam and are a La Liga fan, here’s some good news. MP & Silva has come to an agreement with Sociedad General de Produccion y Explotacion de Contenidos S.I. to distribute the rights of the first division of La Liga until 2015.

Rumors, rumors, rumors! The rumor mill is still turning that David Villa is out of favor with Messi in Barcelona, so Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa are sniffing around to battle it out for the Spanish striker. It would be interesting to see how this plays out, considering Villa broke his shin bone yesterday in Barca’s win over Al-Sadd. Hmmm, interesting rumor indeed!

Real Madrid and CSKA Moscow have been shunned by Gremio director Paulo Pelaipe, who stated recently the club will not hand over 21-year-old defender Mario Fernandes.

Serie A

AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi obviously knows that flattery will get him everywhere with Carlos Tevez. The Italian club’s owner used pretty words like “Ballon d’Or” and “prestige” to tempt the Argentinian striker, who has gone M.I.A. from Manchester City. I have a feeling though that between “prestige” and “money,” the latter will win.

Roma fans are probably upset today as their long time captain Francesco Totti made an angry statement about leaving the club he has been with for 19-years. Totti made the claim after taking some criticisms about the team’s recent performance.

English Premier League

As if we didn’t hear enough about transfer rumors, huh? In England, Tottenham Hotspur Sandro’s manager said the striker is considering moving to Serie A in Italy, since he can’t seem to hold down a first-team starting spot with the Spurs.

Speaking of the Spurs, their boss Harry Redknapp just can’t stop talking about his feelings on the refs in the EPL. Now he proposing there be two refs in the game to avoid errors in calls. 

U.S. Women’s National Team

While the USWNT had an extended training session in L.A. recently, U.S. Soccer’s Web site got a little creative with their latest interview. No, they didn’t interview Hope Solo on a dance floor – they talked to Twitter sensation, Megan Rapinoe’s Hair. Yup, you read that correctly.