FIFA Player of the Year - It’s Messi Again Guys

Yes, it is once again Lionel Messi. We are talking about the FIFA player of the year award. It was not surprising that The Soccer God would be nominated the best player of the world this year also. Had it been otherwise, the soccer lover would have gotten a nasty shock.

The soccer critics had predicted this. The contenders had predicted this. The entire soccer world had predicted this. The fans had ensured this. They cheered without constrain. They made sure that their soccer idol once again stands tall among all the dazzling personalities of the soccer universe.

Everyone, who is familiar with the game called soccer or football, knows that 2012 had been an incredible year for Messi. With 91 goals under his belt, he had not only surpassed Muller’s record, he had ensured his superiority over the other contenders once again.

Despite the controversy which initially followed forth in the last week of Dec 2012, Messi made sure that he remains where he should be – right at the top. Those who really know the game, and love it with their hearts, will agree that no one else but Lionel Messi deserves to win the best player of the world award this year also.

It is the fourth time he climbed the stage to collect his trophy. By receiving the award this awe striking soccer talent surpassed two other legends from the past. One of them is none other than Zinedine Zidane of France. The world of soccer still bows down before this talent with respect in spite of the controversy in the last match of his life. Another player whom Messi has beaten is Ronaldo of Brazil. Whoever can forget his vigorous ball following skill and amazing speed?

The hall of famers who deserve to be mentioned as three times winner are France’s Michel Platini, Holland’s Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten. None of the names are unfamiliar to any soccer lover.

If you think that Messi had it easy because there were no strong contenders, you are mistaken. Messi was up against Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal. These two young talents have gone through many rounds of comparisons. There is no doubt that many more rounds are about to rise in the future.

This Portuguese star is not small name in the world of soccer. He had worn the mighty Man Utd jersey in the past. Later he had been transferred to Real Madrid and became a precious addition to the team within a short span of time. He had won the FIFA player of the year award in 2008. This year also he had been a tough challenge. Had Messi not been nominated, the choice would have been a difficult one.

However, Messi was named and Messi got 41.60 percent votes, while Ronaldo received 23.68 percent votes. Another contender of the award had been the fellow Barcelona team mate Andres Iniesta, who ended up receiving 10.91 which was not enough to take home the glory.         

Messi totally dominated the award night. Everyone else faded into oblivion and only the smiling face of the 25 year old soccer wonder remained. Everyone must have gone home with the same thought – yet another year has begun, what Messi will do next?

Lionel Messi – The Undisputed Soccer God of the Era

Every era has its’ own soccer gods. This one belongs to Lionel Messi. With 86 goals under his belt he has not left any doubt that he, Lionel Messi is The Soccer God of this era.

The love for soccer had been in his blood. From the age of five Messi started playing soccer. Soon he became the star player of the local team. But, sun does not shine everyday and in Messi’s life the dusk appeared too soon. When he was only eleven year old and was dreaming of becoming the next national soccer hero, he had been diagnosed with hormone growth deficiency. To make the matter worse, his father a worker of steel factory did not have the money to continue treatment for the disease.

However, playing soccer was Messi’s fate and the help came in the form of Carles Rexach, the Director of FC Barcelona. He offered to pay the expenses for the treatment, if Messi agreed to move to Spain. It is said that this contract was written on a paper napkin. Messi started to play for Barcelona’s youth academy. Thus began the legendary career.

Messi spent three years playing for Barcelona Jr. Here, he had played thirty matched and scored thirty seven goals. In 2005, Barcelona updated the terms of Messi’s contract. He became the first team member with a higher pay. In the season of 2005-06, Messi made seventeen league appearances. He scored six goals in these matches. However, the successful season did not continue due to a muscle tear in the right thigh.

Despite the injury, Messi made a comeback and did not disappoint the fans. He not only played regularly, he scored fourteen goals in just twenty six matches. Soon, the overwhelmed fans and supports of the team began to call him The New Maradona. Before, critics could raise their voices and brand this tag as hype, Messi proved that if anyone deserved that tag, it was him. The Spanish media created the title Messidona with awe and respect.

Messi was voted as the best player of the world. Soccer personalities like Francesco Totti called Messi one of the current best among all the soccer players. However, injuries do not leave his soccer talent alone. Once again, he had to stay away from the field due to yet another muscle tear in the left thigh. However, every time injuries put him on the back seat, Messi had made a successful return. This time also, he came back and scored sixteen goals in the season.

It is of little doubt that such a talent will make and break many records. The current ripple in the soccer world is the 86^th goal which Messi scored. This goal breaks the record which Gerd Mueller had held for forty years.

Controversies and challenges soon poured in. Many claimed that the actual record was higher than the current one. Some even presented evidence that there are other soccer players who have scored more than Messi.

Players like Lionel Messi play for the pleasure of playing. What record they hold hardly matter for their fans. Even if he does not break Mueller’s record this year, he will do so in the next year. He is only twenty five and there are many good years are awaiting him. Therefore, let’s not get involved in the controversy, just hope to watch more of Messi The Soccer God of the era.