Buenos Aires, Dec 20: Believe it or not, Argentine journalists don't think Lionel Messi is the country's best athlete of 2012.
Argentine boxer Sergio Martinez was awarded the title of "Olimpia de Oro," given to the South American country's top athlete in voting by the Circulo de Periodistas -- or association of journalists.
Martinez defeated Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. earlier this year in their WBC title fight.
Barcelona star Messi, who has had a record-breaking year with 90 goals, didn't even finish second in the voting. That went to Sebastian Crismanich, the taekwondo fighter who won Argentina's only gold medal in the London Olympics. Messi finished third.
As a consolation prize, Messi was voted the best Argentine footballer playing outside Argentina.
"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.
Messi won the "Olimpia de Oro" award in 2011.
