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Lionel Messi back to the top of AP soccer poll

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi from Argentina, right, reacts after scoring against Elche during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi from Argentina, right, reacts after scoring against Elche during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

By Associated Press August 26, 2014 1 min read

LONDON (AP) – The season’s first Associated Press global soccer poll has Lionel Messi back at the top of the list.

The Barcelona forward scored two goals in the 3-0 win over Elche, putting him ahead of Bayern Munich striker Arjen Robben and Manchester City forward Stevan Jovetic.

City, the defending Premier League champion, took the top spot in the team vote after beating Liverpool 3-1 on Monday.

Bayer Leverkusen, which beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in its season opener in the Bundesliga, was second and Barcelona was third.