Argentine national team coach Diego Maradona labeled the FIFA World Player of the Year voting rules as "stupid".

Maradona originally wanted to cast his vote for Barcelona forward Lionel Messi but was not allowed to do so.

According to the rules, a national coach cannot choose a player from his own country and so, Diego had to vote for Manchester United's Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo instead.

"Whoever thought that up is stupid," he said. "It's incredible, I voted for Ronaldo when I wanted to vote for Messi but I couldn't."

Ronaldo ended up being named Fifa World Player of the Year while Messi came in second with Liverpool striker Fernando Torres sealing third place.

The award is decided by all national team coaches and captains of the 208 member associations of world soccer's governing body.