The FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d'Or awards are to be combined to make one trophy to recognise the finest footballer in the sport, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has revealed.

Blatter announced the change on Monday after the game's governing body and France Football, who founded the original Ballon d'Or award ('Golden Ball') - agreed to join forces. A single accolade - set to be named the FIFA Ballon d’Or - will be handed to the first recipient of the prize on January 10, 2011 in a ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland.

Speaking to reporters in South Africa, the 74-year-old said: “The winner is football because as of January of next year we will have one single trophy for the best player in the world and this will be the Golden Ball.”

A FIFA statement later confirmed, "the winner will be chosen by the coaches and captains from the national teams, as well as by the media."

The Ballon d'Or has been awarded since 1956, with FIFA following suit in 1991. Barcelona and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi currently holds both titles after stellar performances in 2009.

According to a report in Argentinean sports daily Olé, the players of la selección, including FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi (23), received an unexpected welcome as they returned home, following the 4-0 defeat at the hands of Germany.

The players could not believe it: when they returned in the afternoon of July 4, 2010, more than 20,000 people received them in Richieri. And if they had been champions, one can only imagine what the scene might have been.  Maradona, according to the report, excited and touched, returned the greeting. Kun Agüero summed it up: “Thank you and sorry.”

Given the scoreline of the defeat, it would not have been unreasonable for the team to have expected a different sort of greeting. Instead, they were welcomed home by more than 20,000 supporters, proud of the effort their team had given. Via Twitter, Kun Agüero wanted to express his gratitude as he left this message for the fans: “What happened to us yesterday was a very hard and unexpected blow. But that of the people today [the welcome] in Ezeiza was incredible. Thank you and sorry.”

Video of the team’s reception, as they arrived by bus into Ezeiza can been seen here:

Yaya Toure moves to Manchester City as the Premiership's biggest EVER earner.

City have made Yaya Toure the Premier League's first £200,000-a-week player according to reports.

The £24m signing from Barcelona starts life at Eastlands on £185,000-a-week but has engineered a rise to £221,000-a-week from next April, when the government's new 50% tax rise comes into force.

Toure will take home £5.75million a year after tax.

It is an incredible deal for a player who made just 13 starts for Barca last season.

Manchester City team-mate Robinho was previously the Premier League's highest-paid player on £160,000-a-week. Chelsea's John Terry is thought to earn £151,000-a-week.