A touch of class from Lionel Messi

Barcelona lost 1-3 to Real Betis, which was a moral win as Barcelona qualified anyhow to the Semi Final as they won 5-0 in the first game. Messi scored a hatrtrick in the first game, and scored for his team a goal that is very difficult, but again, Miessi makes it look very easy

Barcelona and new Messi role

It kinda became boring and a routine in the Spanish League to watch Barca and Real winning every game against other teams. Barcelona crashed Malaga 4-1, with a wonderful opening from Iniesta. What's interesting in recent Barcelona game is Messi new role. More and more he is positioning behind the strikers and provide sharp penetrating passes. Remember his two passes in the 5-0 vs. Real? He did two again yesterday,

Messi celebrates the award with a special hattrick

Messi celebrates the player of the year award by scoring his third hattrick for the new season against Real Betis in the Spanish Cup.

The hattrick was scored in a very "Messi" way, however, in my opinion, the play of the game came with the fifth goal assist from Iniesta, with a very special cross to Seyodu Keita

Lionel Messi Deservedly 2010 Player of the Year

"To be honest, I didn't expect to win today, but it was already great to be here next to my two mates. To win it makes it even more special. I want to share with all of my friends, my family, all the Barcelonistas and the Argentinians."

I think I got this one right. I told my friends if I were to vote, I would vote for Messi, but I think he will find strong competition first from Iniesta, then Xavi. Unfortunately, my vote does not count : )
The award is based on coaches, captains and global journalists.

Messi became the first player to be named player of the year in a World Cup year without winning the cup.

Messi scored 60 goals in 2010 for Barcelona in an amazing run. 10s of them were jaw dropping performance.  I won't talk about his superhattrick vs. Arsenal, amazing dribbles, one-two goals, rather, I will post a goal from 2009 Champion League against Lyon. It is my favorite goal for Messi,


In the other award, Murinho won the coach of the year. I think it is a very deserved title, especially when you watch Inter Milan with exact same players, but without Murinho. Also, the way Inter managed to beat Barca in the semi-final second leg of the CL was a great performance, and it takes a lot of guts to do it.

Also, Hamit Altintop goal vs. Kazakhstan deserved its title. It is an amazing goal, in its technical quality, it is the first time I see a volley better than the Marco Van Basten 1988 goal. Of course, Basten goal had its own historical importance.



Here is the full list for the FIFA awards for 2010:
FIFA Men's World Player of the Year: Lionel Messi
FIFA Women's World Player of the Year: Marta
FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men's Football: Jose Mourinho
FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women's Football: Silvia Neid
FIFA FIFPro World XI of 2010: Iker Casillas; Maicon, Gerard Pique, Lucio, Carles Puyol; Xavi Hernandez, Wesley Sneijder, Andres Iniesta; Cristiano Ronaldo, David Villa, Lionel Messi
FIFA Puskas Award: Hamit Altintop
FIFA Fair Play Award: Haiti Under-17 women's team
FIFA Presidential Award: Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Messi free-kick magic is back

Barcelona smashed La Coruna 4-0. Messi scored from an amazing free-kick. Since many months we are missing Messi great free kicks and I was wondering, did he lose that part of his skills?

Messi one-two-goals

One of the great qualities that Messi aquire is his ability to play team work, quick passes, and move around with "One-Two" passes. It is a very smart, unselfish way to get through defences using team-mates.

Not a lot of players, or big stars do that. You don't recall it a lot in players like Cristiano Ronaldo for example. But you find it in the best quality of players, some of the big names, Pele, Maradona, Zidane, Beckenbauer, Romario, Roberto Baggio, Zico and, of course, one of best them with skill: Lionel Messi.

Recently he scored a passionate goal vs. Real Sociedad with great set of "One-Two" passes



Here is a wonderful clip some of his best "one-two" goals



I was watching some old clips, and I saw this one for Maradona. It directly reminded me of this goal for Messi vs. Panathinaikos.



The way he received the ball, the quick swift one-two passes, his flexible body, the balance ..... one more way of similarities of the two players.
Here is the original version of the goal, by Maradona :)

Messi never dive

Lionel Messi did a wonderful peice of skill in yesterday game vs. Atletico Bilbao.

what's interesting that he tries to keep his balance and continue playing and does not look for dive and easy fouls

he is a player of good attitude and manners, in the field, and off the field

Golden ball to Barcelona

In the last three weeks, I kept chatting with friends about this award, and whoever knows me in person know well that I always said, it will go to one of the three players: Messi, Xavi and Iniesta. Well, I think this was an easy prediction, not that difficult.

France Football reported officially that the three Barca stars will be the final nominees.

and if it is up to me to vote, I will give my vote to Messi, then Iniesta then Xavi. I think it is very likely it will go to Iniesa, he was always present at the most difficult moments with critical goals and passes.

Messi magical touch pass

Barca beat Osasuna 3-0 in away game after long trip by bus and train. Messi had an assist and scored two more.

What was breathtaking to watch is his pass to Pedro. He did it with a magical touch, so simple, so accurate and it looks a peice of kick. This type of passes, I think I seen it only with Maradona

CL play of the week: Lionel Messi makes everyone laughes

It was wonderful two days of CL games with great days for Spurs, Roma, Real Madrid and Barcelona in specific. Yesterday Barca dominated Panathinaikos, take a look at these statistics:

Goal scores: 3-0 for Barca
Attempts on Target: 12-1 for Barca
Possessions: 74% - 26% for Barca

However, the highlight of the game was one of the amazing dribbles by Lionel Messi



lol listen at the commentator at the replay laughing
this reminds me of last year when Messi made the Jazeera Sport Channel team fall into big laughs, as they could not describe his skills


and here is something really nice if you missed it, as I have not seen Argentina 4-1 friendly vs. Spain, I saw recently this wonderful dribble and penetration of Messi vs. Spain

Friendlies review (1 of 2): Messi is the biggest winner

Some of the today's friendlies carried a lot of the psychological and political importance. Here is a review of some

Argentina x Brazil:
Not very exciting game, Brazil was better as a team. Argentina looked paled and fragmented. Still no team work. However, plitically, it was very important win for the 'temporary' coach Batista. This means he might continue for a longer time with Argentina.

Also, Messi scored a goal to remember, with a great 'One-two' run from midfield around four defenders. He also had a great chance in the first half.


again, this goal will remind people of Maradona great run in 1990 vs. Brazil . Of course Maradona run was more important and difficult. But, from aesthetic point of view, there are some similarities.

Also, I think this goal - together with many recent beautiful goals - for Messi, will give him a lot of credit and enhance his chances to win the Golden Ball award for this year.

In my opinion, he will win it with tight difference with Xavi, Iniesta and Schnieder. Despite only having one league title, and failing in the WC, he still got big chances to win it, just like Marco Van Basten in 1992. He won Italian league, but failed in Euro 92, he still won it with some memorable goals.

Messi delightful one-two goal

I don't know what to say

Messi wonderful goal

in case you have missed the game like me, here is the video to enjoy the goal



and here is the second goal
game ended 2x0 missi scored both

The ugly side of football

Ujfalusi cruel tackle on Messi on Atletico Madrid game vs. Barca.
Messi was very lucky not to get a broken ankle from this ugly tackle.

Reminded us on 1983 Maradona when his ankle was broken vs. Atletico Bilbao

Three goals deserves a "must see" this week

The first is the Turkish goal vs. Kazakhstan, amazing volley, reminds us of Marco Van Basten exceptional volley


The second is Messi second goal vs. Panathanaikos, with a top class "one two" style goal


The third was from Thomas Mueller

I am back and Messi back with a Hat trick : )

I was bit busy with Ramadan month! I thought of taking vacation from the blog, but now, the season got a beautiful start.

Messi got a hat trick when Barca smashed Sevilla 4-0 to win the Super Cup, and start the season with a wonderful start. Well, honestly, Sevilla played a bad game, and allowed so many spaces.



One day earlier, Bayern Munich beat Wolfsburg 2-1 with a wonderful game in the first day of the Bundesliga.

Barcelona Korea-League 5-2

In a pre-season preparations, Messi scored two goals, typical his style. The second at least worth watching.

Maradona and Messi

as we are reaching to the most decisive game so far in this tournament, here is something funny to enjoy :)

Messi magical moments

As we are waiting for the big event, here is something from fans camera, to make you aspire for the World Cup



and here is something more

Maradona vs. Messi goal

I found this interesting comment by Maradona when Messi scored his famous goal:

"Those who made that comparison were exaggerating, they really over exaggerated. To start with, my goal was more beautiful than Messi's. And what's more, I scored it against eleven internationals from England, a world champion team, and in a World Cup. Leo scored his against Getafe, in the Copa del Rye in Spain. It's not the same. It has nothing to do with mine. No, no, leave it, they are nothing alike. I scored millions of those kinds of goals in training, they're just not on tape. If we're going to talk seiously about this, don't make me say something I don't mean. "



Crazy fans did this interesting comparison, of the two goals:
Distance: Maradona ran 62 meters, while Messi run 60 meters
Time: Maradona 10.8 seconds, Messi 12.0 seconds
Speed: Maradona ran with 5.7 m/seconds, Messi 5.0 m/seconds
Touches: Maradona did 12 touches of the ball, Messi did 13 touches
Dribbling: Maradona and Messi passed same number of opponents (6 or 5) depending how you count them
Both celebrated at same flag corner of the field. Even TV broadcasting angle happened to be the same.

Irregardless of figures, I think both goals were great, but I favor Maradona goal much more, and I think it was more difficult one. Yet, I see Maradona comments were over-creative, and we gotta remember that  Maradona was 26 years old, and Messi wasn't even 20 (19 years, 10 months) when each scored their famous goal.