FC Barcelona awarded Laureus World Team of the Year

London (FCB).- The Laureus World Team of the Year goes to ... FC Barcelona. The team lead by Josep Guardiola was named the Laureus World Team of the Year on Monday night for in London after the Catalan Club's near impeccable 2011 run where they claimed the Spanish League, Champions League, Spanish and European Super Cups and Club World Cup. The Laureus World Sports Academy picked Barça ahead of the NBA champions, the Dallas Mavericks; the Formula 1 team Red Bull; the New Zealand’s All Blacks, world champions; the English national cricket side, reining The Ashes champions; and the Japanese Women’s football team, also world champions.

FC Barcelona President Sandro Rosell and the club’s Vice-President Carles Viarrubí attended the gala, which was held at the Westminster Central Hall in London. The Laureus awards are considered to be the ‘Oscars of sports.’

Messi and Abidal, nominated

This wasn’t the only prize that Barça was vying for the Laureus night. Messi was one of the six nominees for the World Sportsman of theYear and Éric Abidal was in the running for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year.

List of Laureus champions

2011
Spain's national football side

2010
Brawn GP (Formula 1)

2009
Chinese Olympic team

2008
South Africa's national rugby team

2007
Italy's national football team

2006
Renault (Formula 1)

2005
Greek's national football side

2004
England's national rugby side

2003
Brazil's national football side

2002
Australia's national cricket side

2001
France's national football side