The British magazine World Soccer on Thursday, chose Brazilian striker Ronaldinho as the best player of the decade, while the Argentine international Lionel Messi received the award as the outstanding player of 2009.

The British magazine World Soccer on Thursday, chose Brazilian striker Ronaldinho as the best player of the decade, while the Argentine international Lionel Messi received the award as the outstanding player of 2009.

Ronaldinho took the award, based on the 10 annual voting of the readers of the publication between 2000 and 2009.

The Brazilian, voted Player of the Year of the magazine in 2004 and 2005, finished ahead of Messi and Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Barcelona winning the Champions League, League, Copa del Rey Supercopa of Spain and Europe in 2009, took the prize for best team of the year.

Messi, who won the Golden Ball 2009, is the first Argentine to win the award for Best World Soccer Player of the Year since Diego Armando Maradona received the award in 1986, when he led the selection of his country to victory in the Mexico World Cup. The Argentine international beat fellow Barcelona's Andres Iniesta and Xavi.

Pep Guardiola was voted Coach of the Year after leading Barcelona to win five competitions, including three in the 2008-2009 season, his first year in the Barca bench.

Guardiola beat Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath and Alex Ferguson, Manchester United.