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Barcelona's Lionel Messi: Winning the 2011 Fifa Ballon d'Or was not a surprise
The Argentine attacker revealed that he had expected to win the award and added that he doesn't make the key decisions at Barca, before looking ahead to the future
13 Jan 2012 11:51:31
By Stefan Coerts
Getty Images
Barcelona attacker Lionel Messi has admitted that winning the 2011 Fifa Ballon d'Or did not come as a surprise to him.
The Argentina international beat Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and team-mate Xavi to claim the award for the third time in succession, and Messi stated that lifting the trophy was just as emotional as the first time he won it.
"Obviously, it was not as much of a surprise like last year that I won. I knew that I had a good chance to win the award and was very relaxed," Messi said in an interview with France Football.
"I am very pleased and proud of my victory, just like the first two times I won. This is now the third time that I've won, and I still get emotional. The Ballon d'Or is a very prestigious trophy that all players want to win.
"I was a bit surprised with the big gap between me and the number two. Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi would have been worthy winners as well."
Messi then went on to refute claims that he's the calling the shots at Camp Nou rather than coach Pep Guardiola.
"This is absolute nonsense and a complete lack of respect towards Guardiola. He has won everything and is fundamental to Barcelona's success. I am just a player like everybody else. Guardiola is the one who makes the decisions. I don't have any influence."
The 24-year-old then said that he wouldn't mind missing out on the Fifa Ballon d'Or in the next two years for a shot at glory with the national team in 2014.
"Winning the Ballon d'Or again in 2014 would be the ultimate reward, because that would mean that Argentina are world champions. I would happily miss out on the award in the next two years."
The Argentina international beat Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and team-mate Xavi to claim the award for the third time in succession, and Messi stated that lifting the trophy was just as emotional as the first time he won it.
| Bet: | Returns: | Argentina £11.80 | Draw £65.00 | Ecuador £150.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Argentina £12.50 | Draw £55.00 | Ecuador £120.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Argentina £12.22 | Draw £60.00 | Ecuador £130.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Argentina £12.00 | Draw £65.00 | Ecuador £130.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Argentina £12.00 | Draw £56.00 | Ecuador £140.00 |
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"Obviously, it was not as much of a surprise like last year that I won. I knew that I had a good chance to win the award and was very relaxed," Messi said in an interview with France Football.
"I am very pleased and proud of my victory, just like the first two times I won. This is now the third time that I've won, and I still get emotional. The Ballon d'Or is a very prestigious trophy that all players want to win.
"I was a bit surprised with the big gap between me and the number two. Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi would have been worthy winners as well."
Messi then went on to refute claims that he's the calling the shots at Camp Nou rather than coach Pep Guardiola.
"This is absolute nonsense and a complete lack of respect towards Guardiola. He has won everything and is fundamental to Barcelona's success. I am just a player like everybody else. Guardiola is the one who makes the decisions. I don't have any influence."
The 24-year-old then said that he wouldn't mind missing out on the Fifa Ballon d'Or in the next two years for a shot at glory with the national team in 2014.
"Winning the Ballon d'Or again in 2014 would be the ultimate reward, because that would mean that Argentina are world champions. I would happily miss out on the award in the next two years."
Starting in November and continuing through January, Goal.com is publishing exclusive extracts from Graham Hunter's highly-anticipated new book, 'Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World'. On Friday, the latest extract will take a closer look at the exciting emergence of Fifa Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi at Camp Nou: Don't miss it!
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Argentina - Ecuador
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Argentina 3-1 Ecuador
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Live!
England 1-0 Belgium, Netherlands 6-0 Northern Ireland - follow all the international action LIVE! ahead of Euro 2012
With countries across the continent gearing up for their final warm-up games ahead of Euro 2012, join us for all the action from Saturday's friendlies. Get in touch with us via Twitter with your reaction.
Hosted by Joe Doyle
Hosted by Joe Doyle
22:00 BST
Some more from 'WELBZ': "To get my first England goal in that way, obviously I'm really delighted and it's a massive honour.
"I'm just really looking to build on that performance and get more games under my belt and more goals.
"It's something I've been waiting for for a long time. I've had a few caps under my belt and one or two starts. So, just to get the goal today, I'm really delighted."
"I'm just really looking to build on that performance and get more games under my belt and more goals.
"It's something I've been waiting for for a long time. I've had a few caps under my belt and one or two starts. So, just to get the goal today, I'm really delighted."
21:50 BST
And here are some quotes from today's goalscorer, Danny Welbeck: "It's still the same, me and Ashley [Young] playing together.
"We know each other's games and obviously we're training with each other day in and day out.
"So, it was really good to start up top with him."
"We know each other's games and obviously we're training with each other day in and day out.
"So, it was really good to start up top with him."
21:49 BST
So, judging from those tweets, people aren't too confident on Portugal qualifying from their group. Who will qualify from each group? Let me know on Twitter.
21:38 BST
And it's now 3-1 to Turkey! An own goal from Pepe and we're into time added on. Do people think Portugal will qualify from their group?
21:34 BST
Into the final few minutes with Portugal still 2-1 down to Turkey. Cristiano Ronaldo missed his second ever penalty for Portugal earlier on.
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