Barcelona IFFHS publishes its rankings

Messi unmatched in 2016

Lionel Messi has been voted the best playmaker in the world for 2016 earlier on Thursday, after the IFFHS made its results public.

According to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), the Argentine collected 172 points, four more than last year, finishing ahead of Andres Iniesta, second in the ranking with 66 points and Toni Kross, third with 45 points.

The top 10, according to votes collected in 56 countries, is as follows:

Messi (Barcelona) 172 puntos Iniesta (Barcelona) 66 Kroos (Real Madrid) 45 Özil (Arsenal) 39 Mahrez (Leicester) 36 Modric (Real Madrid) 36 De Bruyne (Manchester City) 31 Pogba (Manchester United) 26 Hazard (Chelsea) 14 Payet (West Ham) 8

The award was won for the first time by current Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane in 2006, followed by Kaka in 2007.

The following years were dominated by Xavi and Iniesta, while Kroos was the best in 2014.