"The answer to that is great players would play in any generation. Lionel Messi could play in the 1950s and the present day, as could Di Stefano, Pele, Maradona, Cruyff because they are all great players.
"Lionel Messi without question fits into that category."
Messi's Barcelona team-mate Xavi supported Ferguson's view, saying: "He's still young, only 24, and I think he's going to break all the records that exist in this sport.
"He's going to be one of the best footballers in the history of the sport."
Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic were both included in the world XI dominated by Spain-based players.
Rooney said at the gala: "It was a great year and the highlight was winning the Premier League for the 19th time, which was a great moment for the club."
Barcelona's Pep Guardiola was named coach of the year; Japan's women's World Cup-winning captain Homare Sawa the women's player; Japan's (male) manager Norio Sasaki coach of the year for women's football; the Japanese FA were awarded the Fifa fair play award; Brazilian 19 year-old sensation Neymar won the Fifa Puskas award for the best goal of 2011.
FIFPro team of the year: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Dani Alves (Barcelona), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Xavi (Barcelona), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd).
| Three-time winners of Ballon d'Or | |
|---|---|
| Johan Cruyff (Hol) | 1971, 1973, 1974 |
| Michel Platini (Fra) | 1983, 1984, 1985 |
| Marco van Basten (Hol) | 1988, 1989, 1992 |
| Lionel Messi (Arg) | 2009, 2010, 2011 |