Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has won the European Footballer of the Year by a record margin. He beat last years winner Cristiano Ronaldo by 240 votes. He received double the amount of votes that the former United ace won.
Deserved
It would be hard to argue with his selection as Europe’s top footballer. He he helped Barca to a never seen before treble of La Liga crown, Champions League and Copa Del Rey.
He also finished as the top scorer in the Champions League last season with nine goals and contributed many more assists for his teammates.
Teammates help
Lionel Messi may have performed superbly in the last year but his teammates have made a big contribution to his success. Messi acknowledged his teammates by saying:
“It’s also right that they recognised the efforts of Xavi, Andres and also Samuel. It’s well-deserved that there are so many players from Barca up there.
“It would have been more difficult to achieve it without Iniesta and without Xavi. The prize is for all the group, to the youth system of Barcelona because we have achieved everything with a lot of home-grown players.
“It’s important for the club. I would’ve voted for any of my team-mates. Anyone in our changing room deserved to win it.”
Messi seems like a level headed youngster who hasn’t been caught up in his hype. He doesn’t seem big headed like last years winner. Its good in a world where a young footballer is treated like a god and given everything on a plate that he can be so modest.
He is the first Barcelona player to win the award since Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho won the award in 2005. However I cant see the Argentinian having the same problems as the former Barca ace. I don’t think his career will drift like Ronaldinho’s.
The Barca Way
Barcelona have a big reputation for bringing players through their youth system. They not only teach the youngsters the technical skills needed to be a professional but also equip them with the mental attributes needed to become a professional footballer.
These players seem different from most other footballers. Its like they have been brainwashed to be ultra professional. If you hear a Barca youth system graduate being interviewed they always give their teammates and opponents the greatest of respect. I saw an interview with Barca midfielder Andres Iniesta before ‘El Clasico’ and the little magician had nothing but respect for Barca’s main rivals Real Madrid.
More to come
At 22 years old Messi has the world at his feet. His form this season has not been the best but it hasn’t been helped by his country Argentina struggling to qualify for the World Cup. Every time he plays for his country he comes back to Barca drained because he feels he has to do everything in the Argentinian team.
Maybe now that his country are qualified for the World Cup he will feel a weight has been lifted off his shoulders. He is such a exciting talent to watch in full flow and surely there is much more to come from the little playmaker. Messi could also be in line for the World Player of the Year award as well and that would complete a superb double for a player who has came through great adversity to make it as a professional footballer.
World Cup ambitions
Despite the fact that Argentina struggled to qualify for World Cup 2010 they will head into the competition as one of the favourites. Messi is of course the star attraction of the team but Argentina also have stars such as Atletico Madrid sensation Sergio Aguero and Manchester City terrier Carlos Tevez.
If Messi and co. did claim the World Cup trophy in 2010 then the youngster will have won every major trophy in the game. With all Argentina’s recent problems it would prove to be Messi’s biggest achievement in football and at 23 there would still be plenty of time for him to expand his trophy collection and further write his name into the football history books.
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