AS.com

Leo Messi returned to training on Tuesday and was treated to an emotional round of applause from his team mates as he stepped out onto the practice pitch.

Just a few hours earlier, the Argentinean was in Zurich, to receive an unprecedented fourth consecutive Ballon d'Or award.

Also nominated for the FIFA award was Messi's team mates Andrés Iniesta who came third in the voting while both players were joined by Gerard Piqué, Dani Alves and Xavi Hernández in the FIFPro World XI.

Like Messi, all of the winners from Monday's FIFA gala were congratulated by the squad before Tito Vilanova and Carles Busquets, who deputised for injured goalkeeping coach José Ramón De la Fuente, put the players through their paces at the Joan Gamper training complex.

Once again Adriano Correia exercised apart from the main group but Vilanova had all of his available players for the session, including Isaac Cuenca who has spent several months out with a torn meniscus, and reserve team player, Sergi Roberto.