Lionel Messi Won 2011 Fifa Ballon d'Or And Third Consecutive Player Of The Year Award.

Name: Lionel MESSI

Club: FC Barcelona

Country: Argentina

Position: Forward

Date of Birth: 24 June 1987 (age 24)

Defining moment of 2011: Running through the Madrid defence at the Bernabeu to score a stunning second in a 2-0 Champions League semi-final win


The three-time winner stuck to players from his club and nation when voting and set his sights on winning the World Cup in 2014. Lionel Messi revealed that he stayed faithful to his Barcelona and Argentina team-mates when it came to casting his own votes for the 2011 Fifa Ballon d'Or.The 24-year-old lifted his third consecutive Player of the Year award on Monday evening, equalling the record of Michel Platini.

"I am enjoying the fact that today my nation feels proud of me, prouder than they ever have before. It is something brilliant, they are showing me that [pride] and I appreciate in the prizes I have received and the recognition from both my country and my home city in more than anything is the love of the people and i noticed it in the short time I was in Buenos Aires and Rosario, walking in the street a young boy came up to me to i feel loved."

Messi's Barcelona won the Primera Division, Supercopa, Champions League, European Super Cup and Club World Cup in 2011 to 3rd straight Ballon d'Or success for Messi, who has now won the 1st two awards and the prestigious prize was merged with Fifa's World Player of the Year gong in 2010.

Messi was the clear favourite to claim the title after helping Barca to a third straight Liga title in 2011 and a second Champions League success in three years to a Argentine reveived 47.88 per cent of the overall vote, Cristiano claiming 21.6% and Xavi in third with 9.23%.

And Cruyff, who has watched Messi emerge at Barca over the last few years, believes the Argentine can go on to claim the award six or seven times and the argentine scored 59 goals in 70 appearances for club and country in 2011, including 55 in 57 for Barcelona. He also racked up an incredible 35 assists in the calendar year.

Cristiano Ronaldo Pictures vs Ajax (27 September 2011)

Cristiano Ronaldo rules !!

Last night against Ajax, he scored a goal and gave 1 assist to Kaka, that helped the team to win 3 goals against nothing.

As for Kaka, it's nice to finally see him back on the track. Like Ronaldo, he also scored 1 goal and gave 1 assist (to Benzema).

Anyway, more pictures on the gallery...

Cristiano Ronaldo Pictures vs Dynamo Zagreb (14 September 2011)

Looks like Red is not their lucky color, as Real Madrid only made a close 1-0 victory over a minor club, Dynamo Zagreb. It was their first appearance with the new red kit, so I expect more enthusiasm and spirit on the match.

It's not that Real Madrid played badly, it's just they weren't lucky enough.

At least I can blame it on the color, which I hate ......

More pictures on the gallery....

Cristiano Ronaldo Pictures (Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid) 3 May 2011

The match couldn't be more ridiculous for Real Madrid players, as they forcedly to be thrown away from Champions League Final, again, from a terribly unfair judgement from the ref.

The match could've ended differently if only Gonzalo's goal wasn't get disallowed by the ref. The goal was very clean. Ronaldo passed the ball to Higuain, who dribbled the ball straight to the goal post and score. But just when Ronaldo made a passed at him, Pique tried to stop Ronaldo by pushing him, that caused Ronaldo to fell to the ground. When he fell, his foot touched Macherano, who ran infront of him(to guard him), and Macherano also fell to the ground. It was purely accident. Ronaldo has no intention to fouled on Macherano. It was more like Pique has the intention to foul on him.
But then again, the ref canceled the goal, and called on Ronaldo made foul on Macherano.

A fan of Barca threw him a traditional hat from Catalan

Apparently, Barcelona couldn't win the match by playing fairly, and without the help of the ref, they wouldn't even enter the semi-finals. Another disgracefull incident from the competition.

More pictures on the gallery.....

Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola: Real Madrid Do Not Have The Power To Decide Who Plays And Who Does Not

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is looking forward to their Champions League come crosswise with Real Madrid on Tuesday evening and considers that Uefa were right not to listen to complaints lodged in opposition to them.

Madrid reported Dani Alves, Sergio Busquets, Pedro, Jose Pinto, Seydou Keita and Victor Valdes for unfair behavior in their 2-0 defeat to Barca in the first-leg of their semi-final tie at the Santiago Bernabeu last week. The money club also unconfined video footage claiming that Busquets had fearful a racist slur toward full-back Marcelo.

“When you make these complaints, it’s because you deem them to be true,” Guardiola told reporters in the pre-match press symposium on Monday. “They may think we’re not fair and I think the contrary. I know my players much well all over again than their legal department. At this club we convey certain values to our people. The Madrid manager [Jose Mourinho] was here for four years and he recognize that.”

Full Story

Roberto Carlos: Real Madrid Have Shown Against Barcelona That Favourites Do Not Always Win

Previous Real Madrid left-back Roberto Carlos has claimed that the Spanish giants have previously proven that favorites do not forever win ahead of the club's Champions League semi-final in opposition to bitter rivals Barcelona.

The 38-year-old was referring to his former side's 1-0 Copa de Rey triumph over Barca last Wednesday; a game that many alleged Barcelona would come into sight victorious.

"Madrid has shown that favorites do not forever win," Roberto Carlos told Radio Marca. "Madrid has the latent to play even improved and this could make a decision the tie.

"But we must be sensible as there are no favorites for this game as both squads are very close [in terms of quality]. Though, Madrid is in improved form after beating Barca in the cup and then trouncing Valencia 6-3 at the Mestalla."

Full Story

Schalke 0-2 Manchester United: Giggs And Rooney Hit Quickfire Double To End Incredible Manuel Neuer Resistance

Manchester United are taking a two goal pillow back to Old Trafford as they overcome a immovable and forceful FC Schalke side at the Veltins-Arena in their Champions League semi-final. Goals from Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney were the fruits of hard labour in Gelsenkirchen following Manuel Neuer established that the attention shown in him in recent months is not groundless.

The German keeper was a enormous thorn in the side of United and time and time once more he was custody United scoreless in a game that was one-sided in the English sides favors.

Schalke, who beat Inter in the preceding round showed little of the attacking flair and seemed content to hold United for as long as they possibly will. They managed this until the final third of the game but United's control shone through in the end.

Full Story

Iker The Octopus Champions League Prediction - Real Madrid

Iker the Octopus has made his prediction for the next Champions League semi-finals Clasico. And after 20 minutes of hesitation, like an expert in sports analitics, he finally chose the tube with Real Madrid logo inside it.

This could be a good sign for all Madridistas, even though it could be just a coincidence.

El Clasico Comment: Who Shall Prevail - Real Madrid Or Barcelona?

With Real Madrid far-reaching sideways the tackle of Tottenham, the mouth-watering set of clashes among the Galacticos and the Cules, something which each football fan in universal has been looking forward to since the draw of the Champions League was made, are in conclusion upon us.

With 4 games in presently 18 day, will this lessen the excitement and consequence of the El Clasico? Not a chance! The clash above all pits two teams with different values against each other. Not only do both the set of fans hate each other for their individual political and ideological views, not including also the tie brings as one two clubs who employ tactics which could be termed as chalk and cheese to each other. This means that no matter what the results of these furniture is, it shall definitely not let a person down.

Mourinho under Greater Pressure

Jose Mourinho knows that with his team by now eight points behind Barcelona and after previously having presided over his team’s mortifying loss at the Nou Camp earlier in the season, the Portuguese cannot manage to pay for any further slip-ups. This collective with his customary clashes with the Board at Los Blancos means that he has more to lose than Pep Guardiola if he ends up human being at the wrong end of the outcome in the four games.

Full Story

Cristiano Ronaldo Pictures vs Tottenham Hotspur (5 April 2011)Champions League

Real Madrid collected 4 goals yesterday against Hotspur. Adebayor with 2 goals, Angel di Maria one goal,and Ronaldo ended the match with the fourth goal. The result definitely will smoothen their victory on the second leg match.

Playing with 10 players early on the match, Hotspur totally couldn't match the host, who played aggresivelly from minute 1. Redknapp, who consider that last night was his worse night ever, had to go home with zero goal.

For the second leg match, they have to win 5-0 in order to win, and that's a mission impossible for Spurs.

More pictures on the Gallery

Champions League Quarter Finals Draw - Real Madrid Strong Opponents Will Be....???

Champions League quarter finals draw will be held on Friday March 18th, at Nyons headquarters. Real Madrid  could be facing Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea, InterMilan, Shakhtar Donetsk, Schalke 04, or Barcelona.

According to Cristiano, right now, Schalke 04 is the strongest team, and would like to see Raul Gonzalez, Real ex captain, back at Santiago Bernabeu with his current team, Schalke.


"Schalke is a good team. Raúl will return home. Barça do not want to face them right now because for me they are the strongest team. It's fine if we have to meet, because everything could happen in a playoff. I'm looking forward, and we'll see what awaits us in the draw," said the Portuguese forward.

Cristiano Ronaldo Pictuers vs Olympique Lyon (16 March 2011)

Real Madrid finally made their first victory against Lyon last night, after 7 years. Jose Mourinho proves that he is capable to break Lyon's curse, on his first year with Real Madrid.

The goals came from Marcelo, Benzema, and Angel di Maria.
Check out for more pictures of CR on the gallery....

Lionel Messi's Curse in Champions League (Arsenal 2-1 Barcelona,16 February 2011)

If Leo Messi thinks that it was easy for Cristiano Ronaldo to be the number one player in British with ManU, well... he should think again. Messi may be the best player in the world right now, but on the land of England, he just couldn't  score. This fact has adding his no goal record in England for 7 straight matches.

It's pretty strange, since in Spain, Messi can score easily. Remember on last season Champions League, when Messi scored 4 goals in 2nd leg over Arsenal in Camp Nou, but contributed zero goals when played at Emirates Stadium ? Call it a curse or maybe a coincidence, but it did happens to him, repeatedly.

And back to the match itself, Arsenal have won 2-1 against Barcelona. David Villa  was the first to score, with the assist from Messi. Arsenal made it even with a goal from Persie on 78th minute, and 5 minutes later, another goal for The Gunner from Arshavin.

But despite their victory, Arsene Wenger said that Messi is still a big threat, when Arsenal visit's Camp Nou on March 8th.
"Who doesn't get worried by Messi ?"Wenger wrote on Arsenal's website.
"It would be a tough task to take him , but we get more enthusiasm with this victory,"he added.

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Auxerre (8 December 2010) Champions League - Pictures and Video

A Hat-trick from Benzema, and one goal from Cristiano Ronaldo brings them to another Champions League victory 4-0 against Auxerre, last night. More pictures on the GALLERY

WATCH CRIS GOAL VIDEO

Manchester United Midfielder Darren Fletcher To Miss Out On Blackburn Rovers Visit

Darren Fletcher will fail to spot out for Manchester United when they host Blackburn Rovers this Saturday.

The midfielder has failed to recover from an ankle wound that ruled him out of Wednesday night's Champions League game next to Rangers.

Sir Alex Ferugson had hope Fletcher would be fit in time for the weekend, other than it is likely he will link Paul Scholes on the sideline after the veteran tweak a groin in the midweek game.

The nonattendance of Scholes and Fletcher may result in a recall to the preliminary line-up for Brazilian midfielder Anderson. The 23-year old has featured carefully this term and will hope to add to the notes he played after coming off the bench against Rangers.

Full story

Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho Knew How To Make Inter Win - Gabriele Oriali

Jose Mourinho's Inter departure was the first shift towards failure, claims ex- director Gabriele Oriali.

Mourinho led the association to a historic treble last period by winning the Scudetto, Coppa Italia and Champions League, and it has rapidly turn out to be apparent that his power is missing.

Oriali believe the new leaders have failed to take control of the power and winning state of mind left in the rear by the 'Special One'.

"He was the one that bring the winning mentality, we were mislaid it, especially on an international stage," he told Sky Sport Italia.

Full story

View This Site: San Francisco movers, Chicago movers

Champions League Match Schedule

 KNOCK OUT STAGE

16 Feb 2011   AS Roma 2-3 Shakhtar Donetsk
9 Mar 2011    Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 AS Roma

16 Feb 2011   AC Milan 0-1 Tottenham
9 Mar 2011    Tottenham 0-0 AC Milan

23 Feb 2011   Intermilan 0-1 Bayern
15 Mar 2011    Bayern 2-3 Intermilan

16 Feb 2011   Arsenal 2-1 Barcelona
9 Mar 2011    Barcelona 3-1 Arsenal

16 Feb 2011   Valencia 1-1 Schalke 04
9 Mar 2011    Schalke 04 3-1 Valencia

23 Feb 2011   Marseille 0-0 Manchester United
15 Mar 2011    Manchester United 2-1 Marseille

22 Feb 2011   Lyon 1-1 Real Madrid
16 Mar 2011    Real Madrid vs Lyon

22 Feb 2011  Coppenhagen 0-2 Chelsea
16 Mar 2011 Chelsea vs Coppenhagen

Matchday 1 (14-15 Sept 2010)

GROUP A :                    Twenthe  2-2  Internazionale
                                       Bremen  2-2  Tottenham
GROUP B :                         Lyon  1-0   Schalke
                                       Benfica  2-0  H.Tel Aviv
GROUP C :    Manchester United  0-0  Rangers
                                   Bursaspor  0-4  Valencia
GROUP D :                 Barcelona  5-1  Panathinaikos
                                 Kobenhavn  1-0  Rubin
GROUP E :                     Bayern  2-0  Roma
                                    CFR Cluj  2-1  Basel 
GROUP F :                   Marseille  0-1  Spartak Moskva
                                          Zilina  1-4  Chelsea
GROUP G :               Real Madrid 2-0 Ajax
                                          Milan  2-0  Auxerre
GROUP H :                    Arsenal  6-0  Braga
                        Shakhtar Donetsk  1-0  Partizan


Matchday 2 (28-29 September 2010)


GROUP A :                Tottenham  4-1 Twente
                             Internazionale  4-0  Bremen
GROUP B :              H. Tel-Aviv  1-3 Lyon
                                      Schalke  1-0  Benfica
GROUP C :                   Valencia  0-1  ManUtd
                                     Rangers  1-0  Bursaspor
GROUP D :                       Rubin  1-1  Barcelona
                             Panathinaikos  0-2  Kobenhavn
GROUP E :                       Basel  1-2  Bayern
                                        Roma  2-1  CFR Cluj
GROUP F :       Spartak Moskva  3-0  Žilina
                                      Chelsea 2-0 Marseille
GROUP G :                   Auxerre  0-1  Real Madrid
                                          Ajax  1-1  Milan
GROUP H :                   Partizan  1-3  Arsenal
                                        Braga  0-3  Shakhtar Donetsk

Matchday 3 (19-20 Oct 2010)

GROUP A :          Internazionale  4-3  Tottenham
                                     Twente  1-1  Bremen
GROOUP B :                Schalke  3-1  H. Tel-Aviv
                                         Lyon  2-0  Benfica
GROUP C :                  Rangers  1-1  Valencia
                              Man. United  1-0  Bursaspor
GROUP D :          Panathinaikos  0-0 Rubin
                                 Barcelona  2-0  København
GROUP E :                      Roma  1-3  Basel
                                      Bayern  3-2  CFR Cluj
GROUP F :        Spartak Moskva 0-2  Chelsea
                                   Marseille  1-0  Žilina
GROUP G :                        Ajax  2-1  Auxerre
                               Real Madrid  2-0  Milan
GROUP H :                      Braga  2-0  Partizan
                                      Arsenal  5-1  Shakhtar Donetsk

Matchday 4 (2-3 Nov 2010)

GROUP A :               Tottenham  3-1  Internazionale
                                     Bremen  0-2  Twente
GROUP B :             H. Tel-Aviv  0-0  Schalke
                                     Benfica  4-3  Lyon
GROUP C :                 Valencia  3-0  Rangers
                                 Bursaspor  0-3  Man. United
GROUP D :                     Rubin  0-0  Panathinaikos
                               København  1-1  Barcelona
GROUP E :                      Basel  2-3  Roma
                                  CFR Cluj  0-4  Bayern
GROUP F :                   Chelsea  4-1  Spartak Moskva
                                        Žilina  0-7  Marseille
GROUP G :                  Auxerre  2-1  Ajax
                                        Milan  2-2  Real Madrid
GROUP H :                  Partizan  0-1  Braga
                      Shakhtar Donetsk  2-1  Arsenal

Matchday 5 (23-24 Nov 2010)

GROUP A : (24/11) Inter Milan  1-0  Twente
                                    Tottenham  3-0  Bremen
GROPU B : (24/11)           Schalke  3-0  Lyon
                                  H. Tel-Aviv  3-0  Benfica
GROUP C : (24/11)          Rangers  0-1  Man. United
                                       Valencia  6-1  Bursaspor
GROUP D : (24/11)             Rubin  1-0  København
                               Panathinaikos  0-3  Barcelona
GROUP E : (23/11)             Roma  3-2  Bayern
                                          Basel  1-0 CFR Cluj
GROUP F : (23/11)    Sp. Moskva  0-3 Marseille
                                       Chelsea  2-1  Žilina
GROUP G : (23/11)              Ajax  0-4  Real Madrid
                                      Auxerre  0-2  Milan
GROUP H : (23/11)          Braga   2-0 Arsenal
                                      Partizan  0-3  Shakhtar Donetsk

Matchday 6 (7-8 December 2010)

GROUP A :(7/12)            Twente  3-3 Tottenham
                                        Bremen 3-0 Inter
GROUP B :(7/12)                Lyon  2-2  Tel Aviv
                                      Benfica  1-2  Schalke
GROUP C :(7/12)        Bursaspor  1-1  Rangers
                                      ManUtd  1-1  Valencia
GROUP D :(7/12)        Barcelona  2-0  Rubin Kazan
                              Coppenhagen  3-1  Panathinaikos
GROUP E :(8/12)             Bayern  3-0  Basel
                                    CFR Cluj  1-1  AS Roma
GROUP F :(8/12)                Zilina  1-2  Spartak Moscow
                                     Marseille  1-0  Chelsea
GROUP G :(8/12)       Real Madrid 4-0  Auxerre
                                    AC Milan  0-2  Ajax
GROUP H :(8/12)            Arsenal  3-1  Belgrad
                        Shakhtar Donetsk  2-0  Braga

Real Madrid Star Cristiano Ronaldo: Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson Is The Best Coach In The World

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo considers his former superior Sir Alex Ferguson is the most excellent coach in the world.

The 25-year-old spent six productive years at Old Trafford, where he won three Premier League titles, and FA Cup, two League Cups, a Champions League trophy plus the Fifa Club World Cup. And to add to his achievements, he as well won the Ballon d'Or in 2008 among a plethora of other person awards.

In addition to having moved to Real where he is now beneath the care of Jose Mourinho, the former Red Devil has rated the Scot because the best in the commerce.

Full story

Manchester United Midfielder Michael Carrick: Champions League Is Tougher Than It Used To Be

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick believes that the in general might of the teams partaking in the Champions League have not been concentrated.

The Red Devils are winning from their three games so far in the group stage, and a conquest in excess of Bursaspor on Tuesday would send them to 10 points - which manager Sir Alex Ferguson believe will be enough to progress from side to side to the make unconscious round.

Be supposed to this come to pass, United will have done it with two games to spare; giving additional ammunition to those who quarrel that the new rules put into result last season - to let teams from more countries to compete - has weakened the superiority.

Full Story

Real Madrid Legend Francisco Gento Heaps Praise On Jose Mourinho

Real Madrid legend Francisco Gento has back new coach Jose Mourinho and considers the Portuguese diplomat is the right man to take the Spanish huge back to the top.

Talking on his 77th birthday, Gento expressed his confidence that los Blancos’ win against Milan has proven that they can overcome Europe once again.

“He is great,” Gento told Madrid’s official website. “He is no novice; he has a lot of history at the back him. He won last year’s Champions League and the players are pleased with him

Full story