Ballon d'Or: Lionel Messi Profile

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23-Nov-2009 8:53:00 AM

More On :  Lionel Messi
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 LIONEL MESSI
Club: Barcelona
Country: Argentina
Age: 22 (DOB June 24 1987)
Position: Attacker
Previous Placings: 2nd (2008), 3rd (2007

Pele, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane….Lionel Messi? 2009 is likely to be remembered as the year that the Argentine ascended into the realms of football greatness.

As Barcelona swept aside all comers in an unprecedented, Triplete-winning campaign, Messi was at the heart of the Catalan giants’ incisive play. Under the careful stewardship of Pep Guardiola, The Flea obliterated the Primera Division, leaving defenders trailing in his wake on the way to halting Real Madrid’s domestic dominance.

His masterful header in the Champions League final to vanquish Manchester United in Rome provided a fitting end to a wonderful campaign, and despite criticism for a below-par start to the 2009/10 season, Messi has scored 11 goals in 15 matches in all competitions for his beloved Catalan club – a staggering warning that the 22-year old still has his formative years in front of him.

Attributes

  • Top scorer in the Champions League in 2008/09 with 9 goals
  • Has netted 30 goals in 34 Primera Division starts during 2009
  • Signed a new contract with Barcelona extending until 2016, with a buy-out clause of €250m
  • Has collected a winners medal in La Liga, Champions League, Copa del Rey and European Super Cup
  • Led Argentina to the World Cup finals in South Africa


They Say...

"It [The B’allon d’Or] is a very special award and would be really nice [to win] because every player would like to have it. It would be very special for me too. I honestly never dreamed of it." --Messi discussing the prestigious award in an interview with Canal +.

Prediction

Barring a colossal surprise, Messi will be crowned Ballon d’Or winner on December 1, and few will dare to question the decision. Barcelona’s achievements mean teammates Xavi and Andres Iniesta have legitimate claims for the title, but the diminutive Argentine was a step-over ahead of the competition in 2009.

22. Maicon

23. Lionel Messi

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