LONDON (AP) — Lionel Messi brushed aside all challengers in the AP Global Soccer rankings this week, although his Barcelona team came close to being topped by new world club champion Corinthians of Brazil.
Messi, with two more goals in La Liga over the weekend for a staggering 90 on the year, received 169 points out of a possible 190 from AP's panel of 19 global soccer journalists.
Corinthians goalkeeper Cassio played a key role in the 1-0 defeat of Chelsea in Japan on Sunday and earned 72 points, two more than Manchester United's Dutch striker Robin van Persie.
