Despite scoring 90 goals this year -- a world record -- Lionel Messi has been rated the third best athlete in Argentina in 2012, according to a poll of journalists in the country. Boxer Sergio Martinez and taekwondo fighter Sebastian Crismanich both finished higher than the FC Barcelona striker.

Martinez won the Olimpia de Oro earlier this year, beating Mexican Julio Cear Chavez Jr in their WBC title fight, while Crismanich was Argentina’s only gold medalist at the London 2012 Olympics.

"It is an honor having won this prize contending with athletes like Sebastian Crismanich and Leo Messi,' Martinez said at the award ceremony on Tuesday night.