Lionel Messi Soccer Rising Star

Messi comes of age

2006-06-05T14:22:00.000-07:00

After 63 minutes of last week's warm-up match against Angola, Argentina brought Lionel Messi off the bench.
The 18-year-old played a half-hour of football that could be very significant, both in the short term and in the long.
The immediate consequence, of course, is that Messi is back and looks set to make a contribution to Argentina's World Cup campaign.
The Barcelona star was in superb form last June when he took Argentina to victory in the World Youth Cup and was fast-tracked into his country's plans for Germany 2006. But then came his first full season as a professional.
There was no knowing how he would stand up to it, or whether he would have any gas left in the tank come the end of the season.
Then he broke down against Chelsea in March, rushed an attempted comeback, broke down again and found question marks being placed against his World Cup participation. The doubts can now surely disappear. He may not be risked in every minute of every game, but Messi will take the field in Germany - and if last week's evidence is anything to go by, he will do it very well.
Against Angola, Messi was not used in the position in which he has usually featured for Barcelona and also in his short international career.
The left-footed star normally cuts in from wide on the right. This time, though, Messi was given a more central role. In fact, he took over playmaking duties from Juan Roman Riquelme.
This could be of huge importance to Argentina's campaign. Riquelme is a magnificent player, but he can have his off days. One of them came last year in the final of the Confederations Cup.
"We'll have to see what other things we can do if Roman's not playing well," mused coach Jose Pekerman after his side's 4-1 defeat against Brazil. But there was no obvious plan B. The team, it was agreed, were suffering from 'Riquelme dependence'. That is no longer the case - or at least, the degree of dependence has fallen.
Pekerman is now aware that if Riquelme is injured, suspended, tired or just out of sorts, then Messi has the talent to run the game from the middle of the field.
Twice against the Angolans he skipped past defenders and slipped through passes for team-mates who then smacked their shots against the woodwork.
Admittedly there are more difficult challenges than taking on Angola in the last half-hour of a friendly.
But watching Messi last week it was hard to escape the conclusion that his long term future lies in the centre, rather than stuck out on the wing.
It is where most of the truly great players operate - like, for example, Messi's two most illustrious compatriots Diego Maradona and Alfredo di Stefano.
They were not only exceptionally talented, they were also blessed with the ability to read the game.
Playing down the middle opened up the pitch for them, giving them the best possible chance to use their skill and intelligence to direct the course of the match.
Maybe Messi is their heir. Maybe that will become apparent in Germany this summer.

MESSI PLEASED WITH RECOVERY

2006-06-01T14:15:00.000-07:00

Argentina wonderkid Lionel Messi is feeling upbeat ahead of the forthcoming World Cup in Germany, insisting his fitness is improving "day by day."
The 18-year-old Barcelona playmaker has been sidelined for almost three months with a thigh injury sustained in a Champions League encounter with Chelsea.
However, Messi played the final half hour in Argentina's 2-0 victory in Salerno, Italy on Tuesday and has felt no reaction to the injury.
He said: "I'm adding minutes and getting some rhythm - I'm happy because I'm improving day-by-day.
"There's no pain at all but I must go day by day."
Messi also revealed that it was a "special" feeling to play alongside Pablo Aimar against the Angolans.
He said: "It was very nice when we touched the ball one to each other.
"It's not the first time I've played with Pablo in the national team, but this was special."
Argentina arrived at their Herzogenaurach base on Wednesday evening and will kick off their Group C campaign against the Ivory Coast in Hamburg on June 10.

MESSI RULES OUT BARCA EXIT

2006-05-29T10:16:00.000-07:00

Lionel Messi has dismissed talk of a move away from Barcelona - insisting no amount of money could tempt him to leave the Nou Camp.
The 18-year-old Argentinian was reacting to media speculation that he could be about to follow in the footsteps of Luis Figo and join arch rivals Read Madrid.
Messi has a 150 million euro (£100.3 million) buy-out clause in his contract with the European champions, but Manchester United, AC Milan and Madrid have all reportedly expressed an interest in securing his services.
However, Messi has no thoughts of leaving the Catalan giants, insisting he wants to make history with his current club.
He said: "This (speculation) does not worry or bother me and it is not important as they know that I will not go to Madrid.
"Leo Messi will not be bought with money, I am not for sale, it does not depend on a buy-out clause but simply that I do not want to leave Barcelona.
"I owe a lot to Barca, the people here have treated me very well and I want to stay, making history along with Ronaldinho and the others."
Messi missed the Champions League final success over Arsenal with a thigh strain, but he is hoping to shake off the injury in order to showcase his talents in the forthcoming World Cup in Germany.
He added: "I am okay. The doctors are in charge but I will not be able to cope with being unable to play for much longer. I have to be calm though and do what they say.
"I cannot see myself starting at the moment because there are team-mates in better physical state. I need to have some minutes playing and get my form but the World Cup finals are over a long period."

MESSI WARNS BRAZIL

2006-05-22T10:42:00.000-07:00

Argentina playmaker Lionel Messi believes Brazil could easily crash out at the group stage in the World Cup despite being favourites to defend their title.
The 18-year-old remembers what happened to his country when they were the bookies' pick for the last tournament four years ago.
"Brazil are a great team but Argentina were favourites in the last World Cup and went out in the first round, so you can see from that it is possible for lots of things to happen," said Messi, who was named as player of the tournament in last year's U-20 World Championships in Holland before bursting onto the scene with club side Barcelona.
Messi is quietly confident of success at this summer's tournament in Germany but insists Argentina's squad will not be talking up their chances for fear of repeating their failure in Japan and Korea.
"We are calm at the moment and we prefer not to talk too much. I am looking forward to playing," said Messi, who is pleased with the current set-up.
"In the last few games we showed the Argentina national side is attack-minded and that is something I like, and I feel comfortable in the team."
Messi looks set to play second fiddle to Juan Roman Riquelme at the World Cup, with the Villarreal man being awarded the coveted number 10 jersey.
But rather than view Riquelme as a rival, the teenager sees the pair playing together, in the same way he and Ronaldinho combine at club level.
"It is an honour for me to play with Riquelme in the squad and Ronaldinho at Barcelona," Messi said.
"They are both great players and, as well as it being enjoyable playing alongside them, it is also a great opportunity to learn.
"I will play alongside Roman in Germany and I hope to continue playing with Ronaldinho for a long time at Barca."

Messi included in Barca squad for Champions League final

2006-05-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

Argentina forward Lionel Messi has been included in Barcelona's 22-man squad for the Champions League final against Arsenal in Paris despite not playing for more than two months.
The 18-year-old trained with the team on Monday but has not been given the all-clear to play by club medical staff.
It is expected that a decision about his inclusion in the team for the final will be made after Barcelona train at the Stade de France on Tuesday.
Messi tore a thigh muscle during the second leg of his side's Champions League knockout tie against Chelsea on March 7.
"The fact that Messi will be with us will make us stronger but we don't know if he will play in the final," Barca midfielder Deco told a news conference at the Nou Camp.
Deco, the only member of the present Barca squad to have won the European Cup after helping Porto lift the trophy in 2004, played down Barcelona's favourites tag.
"There are no favourites for any final and we are going to have to suffer a lot if we want to win it," said the Portugal international.
"We can't say we are the better team and even if we were it wouldn't guarantee us victory. If you don't respect your opponents things can start going wrong.
"(AC) Milan were winning 3-0 last year against Liverpool and ended up losing in the end. We need to be serious, calm and fully concentrated so that we don't make any errors."

Messi to miss Champions League final

2006-05-04T13:27:00.000-07:00

Barcelona starlet Lionel Messi will almost certainly miss the May 17 UEFA Champions League final in Paris.
Messi has a “two percent possibility” of making it onto the pitch in the Stade de France, an unnamed member of Barcelona’s medical staff told El Pais newspaper.
"There are no miracles with this type of injury," he added.
The teenager tore muscles in his right thigh in the Champions League match against Chelsea on March 7 and aggravated the injury during practice last month.
Messi, however, is on track to represent Argentina in this summer’s World Cup finals in Germany, granted he does not attempt to return too soon.
"If he's in too much of a hurry, he'll miss the World Cup," added the member of Barcelona's medical staff.
The tournament begins June 9 with Argentina facing Ivory Coast, Serbia and Montenegro and the Netherlands in Group C.

Ronaldinho and sibling rivalry help Messi bed in

2006-04-20T09:33:00.000-07:00

Lionel Messi has Ronaldinho and some rough football competition from his brothers to thank for a seamless move into the big time.The Argentina teenager was taken under his wing by Ronaldinho as soon as he broke into Barcelona's first-team squad, gaining from the confidence shown in him by the great Brazilian.He also learnt from an early age that he did not like losing in fierce kickabouts with brothers Matias and Maxi in which he did not always come out on top.By the time Messi played at Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League last month, he was hardened enough to shrug off the foul by defender Asier del Horno and the controversy surrounding his own reaction and the Spaniard's red card to go on and help Barcelona win 2-1."I remember at Stamford Bridge all the guys were coming up to me at half-time in the dressing room really worried about me, but I was able to say, 'Don't worry, no problem, I'm fine, let's just get on with beating them'," Messi said."Ever since I was a kid I've hated to lose. If I played with my brothers Matias and Maxi we'd always end up fighting about something. If I lost they'd tease me and punch me until I cried," he said in an interview in Champions Magazine."It's the kind of thing that happens among brothers in a family but they taught me to hate losing," he added in the issue of the magazine being published this week."Something deep in my character allows me to take the hits and get on with trying to win," said Messi, who played little part in the second leg of the last-16 tie against Chelsea after pulling a muscle early in the game at the Nou Camp. A 1-1 draw gave Barcelona the tie 3-2 on aggregate."I've always had this ability to get up and get on with it. Long ago I made up my mind that the fact that people try to kick you and foul you comes with the territory if you play the way I do," the 18-year-old said."Usually the attacks are not malicious. But if they are malicious, you do have to protest a bit. At the start of a match when you are not properly warmed up it hurts a bit more. But by the time the game is in full flow, you're concentrating so deeply on winning, most times you barely notice what has happened."Messi has been compared with Diego Maradona, even by Argentina's 1986 FIFA World Cup™-winning captain himself, and said he was moved to tears when he received a phone call from him after helping his country win the FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands last year."I want to avoid comparisons because for me there has never been anyone quite like him," Messi said.Messi plays alongside another brilliant player in Ronaldinho who forgot about the traditional rivalry between Brazilians and Argentines to befriend Messi."Ronnie was massively important for me," Messi said. "I was so young when I started to come into Barcelona's dressing room, but he made a point of being first to step up to me and look after me."I try to copy little things Ronaldinho does but more fundamentally I just try to play for the joy of it. Playing football has always meant joy for me and that's why I do it. Of course, it's easier when you're winning."

Messi may miss Milan clash

2006-04-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

Barcelona teenage sensation Lionel Messi will probably miss next week's Champions League clash with AC Milan due to a recurring thigh injury.
The Argentinian has been on the sidelines for over a month after tearing his thigh muscle against Chelsea and he will play no part in this Friday's league encounter with Villarreal.
Messi was expected to be back in action sooner but medical staff revealed that the 18-year-old suffered a recurrence of the injury in training.
"Messi felt pain and serious muscle fatigue in the injured area during the final stages of his treatment," read a statement on the club's official website.
"Treatment will continue until the player can rejoin the group without any recurrence of the symptoms."
The loss of Messi would be a big blow for Barca as the attacking midfielder has been one of their outstanding players this season, producing some scintillating displays.
Meanwhile the La Liga giants may also be without defender Rafael Marquez and midfielder Thiago Motta as both players are also struggling to overcome thigh injuries.
Manager Frank Rijkaard will be praying that the trio are able to recover in time for the European showdown as he knows his team will have to be at their best against the mighty Rossoneri.

Barcelona's Messi hopes to be fit for end of season

2006-04-20T09:25:00.000-07:00

BUENOS AIRES, April 19 (Reuters) - Barcelona forward Lionel Messi arrived in Argentina to continue treatment on his injured thigh muscle on Tuesday and said he hoped to be ready for the end of the European season.
The 18-year-old has been out of action since early March when he tore a thigh muscle in his right leg during the second leg of Barcelona's 3-2 aggregate victory over Chelsea in the first knockout round of the Champions League.
Messi has been one Barcelona's most exciting players this season and is expected to shine for Argentina in Germany.
"It doesn't hurt at all, I'm doing the treatment which Barcelona have recommended and I want to be back playing as quickly as possible," he told reporters at Buenos Aires airport.
"I want to try and play the last games of the season for Barcelona and, of course, for Argentina."
Messi, who arrived with a Barcelona representative, said he would return to Spain when he was fully fit. Barcelona are poised to retain their Spanish league title.
He was initially to be expected to be ready for Tuesday's semi-final first leg against AC Milan but experiencd problems with the injured leg while training a week ago.
"My anxiety to play again and be with the team maybe made me try and go a bit too quickly," he said.
Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has approved the idea of Messi returning home, saying last week that he might benefit from a change of scenery.