Lionel Messi scored all four goals in Barcelona's 4-0 La Liga victory over Espanyol Saturday, seeing off coach Pep Guardiola with a victory at his last home game as some 89,000 fans chanted Guardiola's name and waved banners with, "Thank you, Pep".
Argentinian football star Lionel Messi could win the coveted Ballon d'Or for the third year in a row after he was named on a three-man shortlist Monday. His Barcelona team mate Xavi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo were also shortlisted.
Barca's Lionel Messi (pictured centre) led his team to a 2-0 victory over rival Real Madrid in Wednesday's semi-final first leg match of the Champions League.
Argentina forward Lionel Messi has won the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or, which rewards the best football player of the year. Messi defeated Barcelona teammates Andres Iniesta and Xavi Fernandez, who were favoured to take the coveted award.
England enter the South African World Cup with the usual burden of expectation. While their fans expect Steven Gerrard & Co to cruise through Group C, rivals USA, Algeria and Slovenia will be keen to prove they are no pushovers.
Argentina are always ranked among the favourites before every World Cup. In South Africa, Maradona's side (photo) will face Nigeria, Greece and South Korea -- hardly an impossible task, on paper.
Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi has been named World Player of the Year by football's governing body FIFA. He succeeds Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, who won the award for the best goal of the season.
Ballon D'Or winner Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona defeated La Coruna 3-1 on Saturday, resulting in a healthy five point lead over Real in La Ligua. In Italy, Juventus edged out Inter in the Serie A race.
Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, who plays for Barcelona FC, has received the Ballon d'Or 2009 award as the best Europe-based footballer of the year. The award was voted on by journalists from across the world.
Lionel Messi 
