Messi voted Argentina's third best athlete of 2012

Lionel Messi's year included a hat trick against Brazil at MetLife Stadium.

Carlos M. Saavedra/SI

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- Argentine journalists don't think Lionel Messi is the country's best athlete for 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.

Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.