Lionel Messi Won 2011 Fifa Ballon d'Or And Third Consecutive Player Of The Year Award.

Name: Lionel MESSI

Club: FC Barcelona

Country: Argentina

Position: Forward

Date of Birth: 24 June 1987 (age 24)

Defining moment of 2011: Running through the Madrid defence at the Bernabeu to score a stunning second in a 2-0 Champions League semi-final win


The three-time winner stuck to players from his club and nation when voting and set his sights on winning the World Cup in 2014. Lionel Messi revealed that he stayed faithful to his Barcelona and Argentina team-mates when it came to casting his own votes for the 2011 Fifa Ballon d'Or.The 24-year-old lifted his third consecutive Player of the Year award on Monday evening, equalling the record of Michel Platini.

"I am enjoying the fact that today my nation feels proud of me, prouder than they ever have before. It is something brilliant, they are showing me that [pride] and I appreciate in the prizes I have received and the recognition from both my country and my home city in more than anything is the love of the people and i noticed it in the short time I was in Buenos Aires and Rosario, walking in the street a young boy came up to me to i feel loved."

Messi's Barcelona won the Primera Division, Supercopa, Champions League, European Super Cup and Club World Cup in 2011 to 3rd straight Ballon d'Or success for Messi, who has now won the 1st two awards and the prestigious prize was merged with Fifa's World Player of the Year gong in 2010.

Messi was the clear favourite to claim the title after helping Barca to a third straight Liga title in 2011 and a second Champions League success in three years to a Argentine reveived 47.88 per cent of the overall vote, Cristiano claiming 21.6% and Xavi in third with 9.23%.

And Cruyff, who has watched Messi emerge at Barca over the last few years, believes the Argentine can go on to claim the award six or seven times and the argentine scored 59 goals in 70 appearances for club and country in 2011, including 55 in 57 for Barcelona. He also racked up an incredible 35 assists in the calendar year.

Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola: Real Madrid Do Not Have The Power To Decide Who Plays And Who Does Not

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is looking forward to their Champions League come crosswise with Real Madrid on Tuesday evening and considers that Uefa were right not to listen to complaints lodged in opposition to them.

Madrid reported Dani Alves, Sergio Busquets, Pedro, Jose Pinto, Seydou Keita and Victor Valdes for unfair behavior in their 2-0 defeat to Barca in the first-leg of their semi-final tie at the Santiago Bernabeu last week. The money club also unconfined video footage claiming that Busquets had fearful a racist slur toward full-back Marcelo.

“When you make these complaints, it’s because you deem them to be true,” Guardiola told reporters in the pre-match press symposium on Monday. “They may think we’re not fair and I think the contrary. I know my players much well all over again than their legal department. At this club we convey certain values to our people. The Madrid manager [Jose Mourinho] was here for four years and he recognize that.”

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Roberto Carlos: Real Madrid Have Shown Against Barcelona That Favourites Do Not Always Win

Previous Real Madrid left-back Roberto Carlos has claimed that the Spanish giants have previously proven that favorites do not forever win ahead of the club's Champions League semi-final in opposition to bitter rivals Barcelona.

The 38-year-old was referring to his former side's 1-0 Copa de Rey triumph over Barca last Wednesday; a game that many alleged Barcelona would come into sight victorious.

"Madrid has shown that favorites do not forever win," Roberto Carlos told Radio Marca. "Madrid has the latent to play even improved and this could make a decision the tie.

"But we must be sensible as there are no favorites for this game as both squads are very close [in terms of quality]. Though, Madrid is in improved form after beating Barca in the cup and then trouncing Valencia 6-3 at the Mestalla."

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Schalke 0-2 Manchester United: Giggs And Rooney Hit Quickfire Double To End Incredible Manuel Neuer Resistance

Manchester United are taking a two goal pillow back to Old Trafford as they overcome a immovable and forceful FC Schalke side at the Veltins-Arena in their Champions League semi-final. Goals from Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney were the fruits of hard labour in Gelsenkirchen following Manuel Neuer established that the attention shown in him in recent months is not groundless.

The German keeper was a enormous thorn in the side of United and time and time once more he was custody United scoreless in a game that was one-sided in the English sides favors.

Schalke, who beat Inter in the preceding round showed little of the attacking flair and seemed content to hold United for as long as they possibly will. They managed this until the final third of the game but United's control shone through in the end.

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El Clasico Comment: Who Shall Prevail - Real Madrid Or Barcelona?

With Real Madrid far-reaching sideways the tackle of Tottenham, the mouth-watering set of clashes among the Galacticos and the Cules, something which each football fan in universal has been looking forward to since the draw of the Champions League was made, are in conclusion upon us.

With 4 games in presently 18 day, will this lessen the excitement and consequence of the El Clasico? Not a chance! The clash above all pits two teams with different values against each other. Not only do both the set of fans hate each other for their individual political and ideological views, not including also the tie brings as one two clubs who employ tactics which could be termed as chalk and cheese to each other. This means that no matter what the results of these furniture is, it shall definitely not let a person down.

Mourinho under Greater Pressure

Jose Mourinho knows that with his team by now eight points behind Barcelona and after previously having presided over his team’s mortifying loss at the Nou Camp earlier in the season, the Portuguese cannot manage to pay for any further slip-ups. This collective with his customary clashes with the Board at Los Blancos means that he has more to lose than Pep Guardiola if he ends up human being at the wrong end of the outcome in the four games.

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Manchester United Midfielder Darren Fletcher To Miss Out On Blackburn Rovers Visit

Darren Fletcher will fail to spot out for Manchester United when they host Blackburn Rovers this Saturday.

The midfielder has failed to recover from an ankle wound that ruled him out of Wednesday night's Champions League game next to Rangers.

Sir Alex Ferugson had hope Fletcher would be fit in time for the weekend, other than it is likely he will link Paul Scholes on the sideline after the veteran tweak a groin in the midweek game.

The nonattendance of Scholes and Fletcher may result in a recall to the preliminary line-up for Brazilian midfielder Anderson. The 23-year old has featured carefully this term and will hope to add to the notes he played after coming off the bench against Rangers.

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Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho Knew How To Make Inter Win - Gabriele Oriali

Jose Mourinho's Inter departure was the first shift towards failure, claims ex- director Gabriele Oriali.

Mourinho led the association to a historic treble last period by winning the Scudetto, Coppa Italia and Champions League, and it has rapidly turn out to be apparent that his power is missing.

Oriali believe the new leaders have failed to take control of the power and winning state of mind left in the rear by the 'Special One'.

"He was the one that bring the winning mentality, we were mislaid it, especially on an international stage," he told Sky Sport Italia.

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Real Madrid Star Cristiano Ronaldo: Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson Is The Best Coach In The World

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo considers his former superior Sir Alex Ferguson is the most excellent coach in the world.

The 25-year-old spent six productive years at Old Trafford, where he won three Premier League titles, and FA Cup, two League Cups, a Champions League trophy plus the Fifa Club World Cup. And to add to his achievements, he as well won the Ballon d'Or in 2008 among a plethora of other person awards.

In addition to having moved to Real where he is now beneath the care of Jose Mourinho, the former Red Devil has rated the Scot because the best in the commerce.

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Manchester United Midfielder Michael Carrick: Champions League Is Tougher Than It Used To Be

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick believes that the in general might of the teams partaking in the Champions League have not been concentrated.

The Red Devils are winning from their three games so far in the group stage, and a conquest in excess of Bursaspor on Tuesday would send them to 10 points - which manager Sir Alex Ferguson believe will be enough to progress from side to side to the make unconscious round.

Be supposed to this come to pass, United will have done it with two games to spare; giving additional ammunition to those who quarrel that the new rules put into result last season - to let teams from more countries to compete - has weakened the superiority.

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Real Madrid Legend Francisco Gento Heaps Praise On Jose Mourinho

Real Madrid legend Francisco Gento has back new coach Jose Mourinho and considers the Portuguese diplomat is the right man to take the Spanish huge back to the top.

Talking on his 77th birthday, Gento expressed his confidence that los Blancos’ win against Milan has proven that they can overcome Europe once again.

“He is great,” Gento told Madrid’s official website. “He is no novice; he has a lot of history at the back him. He won last year’s Champions League and the players are pleased with him

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Pick Your Real Madrid Team To Face Milan

Real Madrid greeting Serie A outfit Milan to the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday evening, and los Blancos coach Jose Mourinho has named his group for the Champions League encounter. The Portuguese tacticians continue to be without midfielder Kaka and guard Ezequiel Garay.

Sergio Ramos, who missed Saturday's victory over Malaga after behind an ankle injury while on international obligation with Spain, was expected to return to the fold but he has been left out too.

Save for winger Pedro Leon, barred for matchday two’s trip to Auxerre after a fall-out with Mourinho, is back in the fold.

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Serie A Preview: Inter – Juventus

Back into Form

In new coach Rafael Benitez Italian and European champions Inter in progress the season on a slow note. Other than the Beneamata have since picked up impetus and are now comfortably balanced on top spot.

Inter have 10 points from five matches and are joint-top of the Italian first separation with Lazio. The Nerazzurri undergo a 1-0 defeat to Roma in Rome last weekend but healthier in style from that loss with a 4-0 hammering of Werder Bremen in the Champions League in midweek.

The Nerazzurri have a huge home record and the San Siro is their stronghold. Inter’s defence has looked solid as ever as they are at present the defensive side in Italy, having approved just three goals.

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Serie A Preview: Napoli – Roma

Back Among The Top Six

Similar to several of the Champions League hopefuls Napoli too have bear a rather uncaring start to the 2010-11 campaign by their high standards but have now in progress to come into the groove.

Last weekend Walter Mazzarri’s side came from at the back to defeat Cesena 4-1 away from home. The win pushes them to sixth place in the table with eight points from five matches, just two behind leaders Inter and Lazio.

On Thursday evening Napoli held Steaua Bucharest to a 3-3 draw in a Europe League group game gone from home and seems to have regained their momentum and form that approximately saw them qualify for the Champions League places towards the end of the 2009-10 campaign.

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Champions League Team News: Rangers Name Kenny Miller As Lone Striker For Clash With Bursaspor

Ranger’s manager Walter Smith has once more named Kenny Miller as the lone person on strike in the Champions League match with Bursaspor.

Smith's men leave into the second group game off the back of an imposing 0-0 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Rangers' squad to play Bursaspor:

McGregor; Broadfoot, Bougherra, Weir, Papac; Whittaker, Davis, McCulloch, Edu, Naismith; Miller.

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Chelsea Begin Investigation Into Marseille Security Chief Claims

Chelsea has opened an assessment into claims from Marseille's safety chief that he was thrown out of Stamford Bridge amid fan disturbance.

The two sides met previous night in the Champions League, with the Blues claiming a 2-0 victory. Throughout the match, the away support booed Nicolas Anelka and was located under management by ground staff.

Head of safety measures, Guy Cazademont, has claim he was evicted from the stadium and Marseille stewards were not permitted to supervise group. He has since affirmed he will report the stuff to Uefa.

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Jorge Valdano Believes The Sky Is The Limit For Real Madrid

Real Madrid director general Jorge Valdano speaks that the sky is the bound for the Blancos and believes that their 2-0 win over Ajax at the Bernabeu in the Champions League previous week will establish to be the means for a trophy-laden campaign.

"This plan has now gotten under way," Valdano told Madrid's official website. "Next to Ajax the team proved that the sky is the boundary. It had been a extended time as we played at that level. We identify we can be an excellent team.

"We have to always struggle for brilliance. Let's see if we can preserve this level of play. The nearby is all that matters. The past has little significance. This is a bloodthirsty team in the hands of a precise coach. We must face up to each match without taking statistics into contemplation."

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Inter Star Diego Milito Is The UEFA Club Footballer Of The Year

Bury striker Diego Milito has been chosen as the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year at the Champions League group phase draw in Monaco. The veteran striker score crucial goals for the treble winners in Europe's top opposition, counting two in the final alongside Bayern Munich.

In the meantime, the individual place awards are voted on as the Nerazurri took a clean sweep with Julio Cesar, Maicon and Wesley Sneijder - who was winner of the Goal.com 50 - all given script of difference. Goal.com breaks it down.

UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year: Julio Cesar

Nominees: Julio Cesar, Hugo Lloris, Victor Valdes

UEFA Club Defender of the Year: Maicon

Nominees: Lucio, Maicon, Gerard Pique

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UEFA Champions League Play-offs LIVE!

Tottenham play Swiss side Young Boys in the first-leg of their Champions League play-off. Other than initial, it's Zenit St. Petersburg against Auxerre.

Tottenham start their first European Cup escapade for almost 50 years when they journey to Switzerland to face Young Boys in Berne.

Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes proceeds to the opposition he last traited in as a PSV Eindhoven player.

"It's huge to be in the Champions League again," Gomes told tottenhamhotspur.com. "I played in it for four years at PSV and I be acquainted with how good it is, it's astonishing to play Champions League football with Tottenham at the present.

"We merit it. We showed a lot of quality last period, improved a lot and at the present we'll see how good it is. It's the most significant club competition in the world."

Young Boys protector Christoph Spycher has warned spurs his side will play with no fear.

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