Translated material
Messi's hat-trick
A short explanation of how these three trophies differ. Journalists participate in the France Football survey. World Soccer surveys readers, that is, fans. And finally, the winner of the “Diamond Ball” is named by the coaches and captains of national teams. Thus, journalists, fans and experts were unanimous in their opinion: Messi is the best.
However, no other outcome should have been expected. In the past year, Barcelona won everything that can be won - the Spanish Championship, the Spanish Cup, the Champions League, the Spanish Super Cup, the European Super Cup, the World Club Championship. The Argentine's contribution to these victories is enormous. Of course, football is a team game, and everyone wins. But there must also be a main character, the face of the winning club, the Barcelona brand. And at the moment, this is exactly what this fragile-looking black-haired boy is. Moreover, he, being an Argentine and not a Catalan, is no less a symbol of Barca than Chavi, Iniesta and Puyol.
“I didn’t become the king of football or the number one player. Don't say that. I don't think so. I'm the same person I was and I think I'm just lucky to play on a great team. I don’t feel like the best, the best is Barça,” the best footballer of the year modestly said at the award ceremony.
If Barcelona owes Messi a rich harvest of trophies, then Leo himself owes the club his health. If it weren't for Barça, Messi would have remained a dwarf. The boy had a deficiency of growth hormone, and delay in expensive treatment would mean one thing - he would never grow up. “Barcelona” not only found a young talent in the city of Rosario, it transported the boy to Europe and paid all the costs of treatment. Of course, 169 cm is not a gigantic height, but not one-thirty meters either. By the way, even with his current height, Leo plays well with his head. For example, in the Champions League final he scored a header against Manchester United, winning the fight in the air. And in defense for Manchester United, Vidic and Ferdinand play, recognized masters of the game “on the second floor”.
Lionel has opportunities for growth, not physical, but creative. Messi has won a lot by the age of 22. Moreover, he is already settling into the niche of Argentina's number two footballer of all time. For now, number one is the current coach of the Argentina national team, Diego Maradona. But Leo has a chance to beat his famous countryman.