In the much anticipated UEFA Champion's League final between two storied soccer brands — Manchester United and Barcelona — Lionel Messi, the diminutive Argentine icon who plays professionally for Barcelona, delivered. In the 54th minute, with the score tied 1-1, Messi calmly dribbled to the top of the goal box. His nonchalance may have fooled Manchester: Messi had room to fire a left-footed shot that took an impossible swerve to the right, past the arms of Man U goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, into the net. Barcelona held on to win 3-1, cementing its status as the top team in the world and Messi's as the top player in the world. Messi netted his 200th goal for Barcelona in 2011 — it took him just 286 games to reach that milestone — and led Barcelona to its third straight La Liga title. He is in the running for his third straight Ballon d'Or award as the world's best player.