Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been having personal contests ever since Real Madrid nabbed the Portuguese pretty boy from Manchester United.
So far, Messi in his own magical and yet unassuming way have trumped Ronaldo in all global recognition and awards. This season however, Ronaldo leads Messi in the goalscoring charts and Real Madrid is the runaway leaders for the La Liga crown. It would seem that the limelight hogging Portuguese should finally get the better of the inspirational Argentine.
But then Messi goes ahead, scores five goals and virtually create Champions League history and Ronaldo must be cringing, just wondering what he has to do to be the best in the world. No matter what Ronaldo does, Messi is even better at it.
Here are all 50 of Messi's goals this season. You can see this on youtube link here.
This link shows Cristiano Ronaldo who has been phenomenal as well this season. Who would have thought a once one-trick pony could develop into a fearsome goal machine. He is excellent in the air, blessed with two great feet and has blistering pace with awesome close control.
As the final group matches start winding up thick and fast, Group B was also decided last night. Again there were a few permutations possible. Not quite in the epic proportions of Group A but still quite tense. Greece had hope to beat the in-form Argentina while requiring Nigeria to beat Korea Republic. Nigeria on the other hand need to win, score at least two goals and then wait for news that Argentina had beaten Greece. Korea has their fate in their own hands, a draw or a victory over the Super Eagles would guarantee them at least second spot.
Argentina v. Greece
Diego Maradona ended the group phase on a high, with a 100% record. Three wins out of three and most of all, the Albiceleste put together wonderfully cohesive and creative performances. Although needing a win, Greece approached the match very negatively, packing everyone in defence. They rarely showed any intent to go forward and was happy just frustrating the Argentines. Unfortunately nothing can stop the talented Argentina from scoring. A reserve Argentina side took the field against Greece, but one would not be able to tell as Maradona's side dominated possession. The 2-time World Cup champions had to be patient and finally got the two goals in the last 15 minutes of the game. Messi has been unlucky not to have scored yet but he has been the brightest star for Argentina. Lots to admire about Argentina and Maradona so far. The focus, intensity, determination, spirit and comradeship will no doubt take the Albiceleste deep into the tournament.
Every team needs "The Spark", according to Zinedine Zidane. In the stylistic Adidas viral, World Cup legend Zidane sets about looking for "The Spark" to make the ultimate 11, that player turned out to be Lionel Messi. Yes, every team needs The Spark but at the moment, only one team has him and that team is the Albiceleste.
Messi was excellent for Argentina against Korea Republic. He architected two of the Albiceleste's goals and was a constant threat throughout the game. He is really enjoying his football right now in Maradona's system. The mental block he suffers whenever he pulls on the blue and white of Argentina looks to be over and that will boost Argentina prospects in trying to win the World Cup for a third time. Messi is looking as awesome playing for Argentina as he does playing for Barcelona.
Lionel Messi would have scored four if not for Nigeria's brilliant goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama. Enyeama was the star man in this Group B match. So don't let the scoreline fool you, it was a one-sided 1-0 affair! For all Enyeama's heroics, a Gabriel Heinze header was enough to edge out Nigeria. Heinze's goal was literally dropped onto his head by Juan Sebastian Veron. It was his fifth World Cup assist, making him the second highest Argentinian assist leader behind Diego Maradona.
These were the four moments in the match that Vincent Enyeama denied Messi, keeping the scoreline respectable.
Along with Frank Lampard, Maxis (the leading mobile operator in Malaysia) has signed on Lionel Messi as their brand ambassador for the 2010 South Africa World Cup finals. Messi was featured in a Maxis video and you can see it here.
In the video, Argentina's Lionel Messi reveals how his parents did everything possible to enable him to realise his dream of being a world-class footballer. Of course, Messi's story is well-known and Barcelona basically took care of Messi, physically and technically transformed a raw 13-year old into this year's World Player of The Year. Though I am fairly sure Messi was referring to his parents, I do believe he also indicated his undying loyalty to Barcelona for their part in making him the best player in the world.
He is certainly the jewel in a star-studded Argentina team who will be the team that everyone wants to avoid in South Africa.
After his phenomenal four-goal salvo against Arsenal last night in the 2010 Champions League quarterfinal, Lionel Messi cemented his place in the Champions League history books.
He is the sixth player and the first Barcelona player to score four goals in a single Champions League match.
The other five who have done it are:
Marco Van Basten (Milan against IFK Gothenburg November 1992)
Simone Inzaghi (Lazio against Marseille March 2000)
Dado Prso (Monaco against Deportivo La Coruna November 2003)
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd against Sparta Prague November 2004)
Andriy Shevchenko (Milan against Fenerbahce November 2005)
Lionel Messi (Barcelona against Arsenal 6th April 2010)
and to think that Messi is only 22 years old....phenomenal!
If anyone wanted to know how the game of football should be played, the Champions League quarterfinal between Barcelona and Arsenal would be it. The two best footballing teams at the moment did battle and Barcelona came up trumps over two legs. It was always a tall order for Arsenal given that their main inspiration, Cesc Fabregas was sidelined.
I don't know how Arsenal players must feel knowing that they have just played a truly magical team in Pep Guardiola's Barcelona. Perhaps they would be wondering if they could ever play at that high standard. This Barcelona team was put together from their youth squads, with Ibrahimovich as the only significant addition this season. Barcelona (and also Arsenal) are shining examples of how investing in youth talent are the best way of achieving sustainable success. These clubs are a credit to the football industry as they are the ones who are enriching and producing the players to ensure the football industry does not suffer talent drains.
We have seen how Abramovich's money can buy success but it is almost always unsustainable. Memories of Blackburn and Portsmouth come to mind. A much more viable model is the Barcelona model where youth and talent are nurtured and nursed into first team action, giving rise to long term success and champagne football. With such incisive, imaginative football and solid all-round work rate, who's to say that Barcelona will not be the first team to successfully defend their Champions League crown.
Steven Gerrard spoke to UEFA.com on the 10th April 2009 after making his 100th European appearance in the 4-0 thumping of Real Madrid to reach the Champions League quarterfinals. He even scored two goals to celebrate his centennial match.
In that interview after the match, he spoke about four players who excite him, the four he mentioned were Messi, Iniesta, Xavi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Players, Gerrard describes as being on a higher level than any other player, himself included. Without a doubt, these are the four players who set the world alight in the season of 2008/2009 thus FIFA recognized their achievements by nominating them for the World Player Award.
The nominees for 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year Award are: 1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Real Madrid 2. Andres Iniesta (Spain), Barcelona 3. Kaka (Brazil), Real Madrid 4. Lionel Messi (Argentina), Barcelona 5. Xavi (Spain), Barcelona
The winner will be revealed at the 19th FIFA World Player Gala at the Zurich Kongresshaus on Monday 21 December. It will be a huge surprise if Lionel Messi does not add the FIFA crown to his UEFA crown.
As got the Gerrard interview, these were the parts I also found most interesting...7 months on and the interview still seemed relevant.
You were born and raised in the city. What does Liverpool FC mean to you?
Gerrard: It means everything to me. I've supported the club ever since I started watching football. A lot of my family are Liverpool supporters, a lot of my friends, and I still live in the city. So when we do win and get good results, and win trophies, it's nice to be part of it and enjoy it with the supporters.
What was the first game you went to at Anfield?
Gerrard: I was a young boy playing for Liverpool, I think I was eight years of age. Steve Heighway was in charge of all the young players, and he treated us to three tickets, so me, my dad and brother went to the game. We were playing Coventry City and won 3-0. Jan Molby scored three penalties, so it was a strange night.
Who was your favourite player when you were a boy?
Gerrard: After going to that first game, Jan was certainly one of my favourite players. When I started going regularly to watch Liverpool, the likes of Jamie Redknapp, Robbie Fowler and John Barnes were my heroes.
When people talk about great European Cup finals, 2005 when you came from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan will always be up there.
Gerrard: I'm going to be biased and say that the 2005 final was the best final ever. I don't think there's one that turned out the way that game did - 3-0 down, then 3-3, and then a penalty shoot-out. It was fantastic entertainment for the neutral, but to play in it was an unbelievable experience.
One of your best qualities seems to be that you never give up.
Gerrard: That's the way I've been brought up at this football club. From a very young age you're taught never to give up until the final whistle, no matter what the score is, and to keep fighting all the way till the end. And that's how I like to play the game. So many football matches have been turned around in the last couple of minutes, so it's important not to give up – and that's a message you've got to give young players.
What are your ambitions for the future with Liverpool and England?
Gerrard: I've still got many more dreams and ambitions to achieve with Liverpool. Obviously the Premier League; that's the only medal that is missing from my collection. It would be nice to lift a second European Cup, so there are still many, many things I want to achieve with the club. And obviously for England it would be nice to go to a tournament and be successful. To go one better than a quarter-final, to get into the last four, or maybe a final; that would be a fantastic achievement.
Do you see yourself as a manager in the future? Will you remain in football?
Gerrard: I have thought about it quite a few times: I'm 28 now and am certainly getting older. It would be nice to stay involved in the game. I'm not sure at what level, whether that's as a manager, a coach or whether I'll go into the media. I'm not too sure, but it would be nice to stay involved because football is so important to me.
You can view the entire interview here uploaded by lfc92erikkynwa
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