The mercurial attacking midfielder has been instrumental to Barca's superlative runs in both the La Liga and the UEFA Champions' league in the past 5 years. His speed, dribbling skills and brilliant passes have no doubt contributed in great measures to the success stories of FC Barcelona.
He assisted the former champions to the semi final stage of the UEFA Champions' league last season; and also played a significant role in their emergence as the La Liga champions. He also played a significant part in his country getting to the quarter final stage of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
This wonder kid has kept improving since he made his mark at the World Youth Championship in the Netherlands in 2005: he has not looked back ever since. Now he is beginning to rub shoulders with the great names in soccer history - Arantes De Nacimento (Pele), Zinedine Zidane, Louis Nazario DeLima (Ronaldo), Manco Van Basten, Ronaldinho, etc.
When he took the world by surprise in 2005, a lot of people had concluded that his performance then was a flash in the pan; but today he has proved all his critics wrong by adding titles upon titles to his coffers.
Winning the World Footballer award back to back is no mean feat: only few footballers have actually been able to achieve that. Messi has been able to get to this enviable level as a result of his discipline and cool-headedness. He has not allowed pride to come into him; he has not allowed his achievements to go into his head.
This is no doubt a deserved victory. That the world voted overwhelmingly for him in preference to Cristiano Ronaldo shows that his success was truly great and convincing. He proved himself in the field of play; he made an impact as a player and as a team member.
With age on his side, Lionel Messi may go ahead to surpass the records of Pele, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Diego Maradona, Manco Van Basten, etc. He has already surpassed some of the records of these soccer greats by winning the Olympics soccer medal and the FIFA Club World Cup.
The way he is playing this season, he may just end up winning the award for the 3rd consecutive year. He has scored several goals already and provided about 15 assists in the La Liga. He has remained consistent in both the league and the Champions' league as well.
The world celebrates with you on your achievement as the current World Footballer of the year. We wish you many more years of soccer achievements. More kudos to you, Lionel Messi.
Joseph Ezie Efoghor is a sports analyst with special interest in football, wrestling, golf, boxing, athletics and long jump. For more of his articles visit http://efoghorsportsarena.blogspot.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Ezie_Efoghor |
No comments:
Post a Comment