LONDON - Lionel Messi moved back to the top of the AP Global Football rankings, and Barcelona stayed No. 1 in the team poll after a 4-0 win over Levante in the Spanish league.
Messi, pictured, earned 183 out of a possible 200 points from The Associated Press' panel of 20 global football journalists. Last week's winner, Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, was second.
Ibrahimovic topped the previous poll mainly for his four goals for Sweden against England.
Barcelona was voted the top club of the week after stretching their lead to three points over Atletico Madrid and 11 points over third-place Real Madrid.
Ibrahimovic garnered 124 points, while another Barcelona player, Andres Iniesta, leapt into third place with 119.
"Two clinical finishes from Messi got Barca rolling towards a 4-0 win against Levante and followed his Champions League double against Spartak," panelist Will Tidey of the San Francisco-based Bleacher report said. "Gerd Mueller's record is just three goals away."
Mueller, a former Germany and Bayern Munich great, holds the record for most goals scored in a calendar year with 85.
The panel's two Italian voters, Paulo Condi of La Gazzetta Dello Sport and Aurelio Capaldi of Rai Sport, paid tribute to Iniesta.
"He made things easy for Barca as he twice set up Messi, scored a goal and allowed Cesc Fabregas to kill the game," Capaldi said.
Borussia Dortmund, which is giving Bayern Munich a fight in the Bundesliga, had two players in the top five.
Striker Robert Lewandowski was fourth with 83 points and midfielder Mario Goetze, who played a key role in Lewandowski's two goals in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Mainz, was fifth with 63.
With Barcelona seemingly glued into the top team position, Bayern and Dortmund were second and third in the AP poll.
AP Global Soccer 10 Rankings for week ending November 25.
(Previous week's rankings in brackets)
1. Lionel Messi (2), 183 points.
2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (1), 124
3. Andres Iniesta, 119
4. Robert Lewandowski, 83
5. Mario Gotze, 63
6. Philippe Mexes, 50
7. Jordi Gomez, 35
7. Toni Kroos, 35
9. Willian, 28
10. Radamel Falcao, 22
1. Barcelona (1), 176
2. Bayern Munich, 129
3. Borussia Dortmund (8), 105
4. AC Milan, 98
5. Atletico Madrid, 80
6. Paris Saint-Germain, 55
7. Manchester United, 49
8. West Bromwich Albion (6), 42
9. FC Porto, 32
10. Sanfrecce Hiroshima, 30
Messi and Barcelona boss world club and player rankings
LONDON - Lionel Messi moved back to the top of the AP Global Football rankings, and Barcelona stayed No. 1 in the team poll after a 4-0 win over Levante in the Spanish league.
Messi, pictured, earned 183 out of a possible 200 points from The Associated Press' panel of 20 global football journalists. Last week's winner, Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, was second.
Ibrahimovic topped the previous poll mainly for his four goals for Sweden against England.
Barcelona was voted the top club of the week after stretching their lead to three points over Atletico Madrid and 11 points over third-place Real Madrid.
Ibrahimovic garnered 124 points, while another Barcelona player, Andres Iniesta, leapt into third place with 119.
"Two clinical finishes from Messi got Barca rolling towards a 4-0 win against Levante and followed his Champions League double against Spartak," panelist Will Tidey of the San Francisco-based Bleacher report said. "Gerd Mueller's record is just three goals away."
Mueller, a former Germany and Bayern Munich great, holds the record for most goals scored in a calendar year with 85.
The panel's two Italian voters, Paulo Condi of La Gazzetta Dello Sport and Aurelio Capaldi of Rai Sport, paid tribute to Iniesta.
"He made things easy for Barca as he twice set up Messi, scored a goal and allowed Cesc Fabregas to kill the game," Capaldi said.
Borussia Dortmund, which is giving Bayern Munich a fight in the Bundesliga, had two players in the top five.
Striker Robert Lewandowski was fourth with 83 points and midfielder Mario Goetze, who played a key role in Lewandowski's two goals in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Mainz, was fifth with 63.
With Barcelona seemingly glued into the top team position, Bayern and Dortmund were second and third in the AP poll.
AP Global Soccer 10 Rankings for week ending November 25.
(Previous week's rankings in brackets)
1. Lionel Messi (2), 183 points.
2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (1), 124
3. Andres Iniesta, 119
4. Robert Lewandowski, 83
5. Mario Gotze, 63
6. Philippe Mexes, 50
7. Jordi Gomez, 35
7. Toni Kroos, 35
9. Willian, 28
10. Radamel Falcao, 22
1. Barcelona (1), 176
2. Bayern Munich, 129
3. Borussia Dortmund (8), 105
4. AC Milan, 98
5. Atletico Madrid, 80
6. Paris Saint-Germain, 55
7. Manchester United, 49
8. West Bromwich Albion (6), 42
9. FC Porto, 32
10. Sanfrecce Hiroshima, 30
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