Messi Ends the Year with Record 91 Goals…

Posted on December 23, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

In what’s proved to be a banner year, Lionel Messi has extended his goal-scoring record…

The 25-year-old Argentine fútbol star and UNICEF Goodwill Ambasador, who broke German great Gerd Muller’s 40-year-old record for most goals in a year earlier this month, ended his record year this weekend with his 91st and final goal of 2012 in Fútbol Club Barcelona‘s 3-1 win at Valladolid, which the team dedicated to ailing coach Tito Vilanova.

Messi scored in the 59th minute by dribbling between a defender’s legs before making it 2-0 after Xavi Hernandez had opened the scoring two minutes before halftime.

Barcelona’s players wore T-shirts before the game with messages of support for Vilanova, who had throat surgery to remove a second tumor in two years on Thursday.

“This win is for Tito,” Barcelona defender Dani Alves said. “It’s a surprise and joy that he is home now. We are here to help him any way he can. Football is secondary now, he is fighting for his life.”

Barcelona remained perfect in nine away games and extended its record league start with its 16th win in 17 rounds. It opened up a nine-point lead over second-place Atletico Madrid and a 16-point gap over Real Madrid after it lost to Malaga Saturday.

Messi Calls for Action to to End Infant Mortality

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He may be one of the greatest soccer players in the world…But Lionel Messi is still a human with a big heart…

The 25-year-old Argentine fútbol star, the holder of the new record for most goals in a calendar year, is calling for action to end infant mortality.

Messi, the Futbol Club Barcelona striker, made that appeal in a video this week for the UN Children’s Fund.

Messi, who became a father for the first time this year, said in the UNICEF video that while the number of infant deaths fell from nearly 12 million in 1990 to around 6.9 million last year, “those boys and girls did not have to die, but they died.”

Despite advances, some 19,000 children worldwide under 5 die every day from preventable causes such as pneumonia, diarrhea and malnutrition, accoriding to UNICEF.

Predicted to receive a record fourth Ballon d’Or as the world’s top soccer player next month, Messi became a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF in March 2010 and has become an outspoken advocate for the most vulnerable children.

Messi Scores History-Making 86th Goal of 2012…

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He’s already considered one of the greatest soccer players of all-time… And Lionel Messi has just shown the world another reason why…

The 25-year-old Argentine fútbol star broke German great Gerd Muller’s 40-year-old record for most goals in a year on Sunday by scoring for the 86th time in 2012.

Messi scored twice to lead FC Barcelona to a 2-1 win at Real Betis in the Spanish league match.

His first was an individual effort in the 16th minute to tie Muller’s mark, and he eclipsed the 1972 milestone with a left-footed finish nine minutes later.

“As I have said many times, the record is nice but the important thing is the victory that keeps us on the path we want to continue on,” said Messi. “As I always say, my objectives are on a team level: to win the league, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey again.”

Messi has scored 74 goals for Barcelona and 12 times for Argentina this year, and he still has three games left to add to his tally before the end of the year. Muller scored 85 for Bayern Munich and West Germany.

The 25-year-old Messi passed Brazil great Pele‘s single-season milestone of 75 goals for Brazil and Santos in 1958 with his 75th and 76th goals of the year on November 11 to move into second place behind Muller.

“We won’t see another player like (Messi),” said Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova. “Not just because of his ability to score. But also for his ability to pass, play defense, and his understandings of the game. He is a global star that helps us in so many ways.”

Messi is one of the three finalists for the FIFA world player of the year award along with teammate Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s won the Ballon d’Or for the past three years in helping Barcelona win three Spanish league titles and two Champions League crowns, along with several other competitions. He ‘s seeking to become the only player to win the award for a fourth time when the winner is announced on January 7.

“Leo is supernatural,” said Barcelona defender Gerard Pique. “He doesn’t have limits. We’ll always have to remember everything he gave us. We have to enjoy every minute we have with him.”

Messi ThisClose to Tying Record For Goals in a Calendar Year

Posted on December 2, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It’s no wonder he’s gunning for his fourth consecutive Ballon d’Or… Lionel Messi is thisclose to making soccer history for his ability to score goals.

The 25-year-old Argentine fútbol star is just one goal shy of German Gerd Mueller‘s record of 85 goals in a calendar year after scoring twice in FC Barcelona’s 5-1 win over Athletic Bilbao.

Messi was again a key figure as Barcelona set a new record start to a La Liga season with 13 wins and a draw in their first 14 matches, surpassing the previous best by Real Madrid in the 1991-92 season.

Messi’s 11th double of the season leaves him one goal shy of Muller’s record for club and country in one year, set in 1972.

Messi Gunning for History-Making Fourth Ballon d’Or

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Lionel Messi is one step closer to making serious soccer history this January…

The 25-year-old Argentine fútbol star has been named as a finalist for the 2012 Ballon d’Or, which honors the world’s best soccer player.

Messi, who claimed his second Golden Boot in October for being the top scorer in the European national leagues, will compete against Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Spain’s Andres Iniesta for the honor, FIFA and France Football announced Thursday.

Messi has won the award for the last three years, while Ronaldo took the prize in 2008. First-time finalist Iniesta was the MVP of the 2012 European Championship. Should Messi earn his fourth consecutive award, he’d become the only player to win the award four times.

Iniesta and Messi are teammates at Futbol Club Barcelona, while Ronaldo plays for Real Madrid.

“We’re not at the level of the Oscars, but we’re not very far from that ceremony either,” Blatter said.

Nominated for Coach of the Year are Vicente Del Bosque of the Spanish national squad, Pep Guardiola – late of Barcelona – and Jose Mourinho, manager of Real Madrid.

Brazil’s Marta and two members of the U.S. team, Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan, will compete for the title of Women’s Player of the Year. The contenders for Coach of the Year in women’s soccer are Bruno Bini of France, Norio Sasaki of Japan and Sweden’s Pia Sundhage.

The Puskas trophy for goal of the year will go to either Colombian Radamel Falcao Garcia, Brazil’s Neymar or Slovak Miroslav Stoch.

The names of all the winners will be revealed at a January 7 gala in Switzerland.

Messi Named La Liga’s Best Player…

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Lionel Messi is simply the best…

For the fourth year straight year, the 25-year-old Argentine fútbol star has been named best forward and best player as Spain’s Liga de Fútbol Profesional handed out awards for the 2011-2012 season.

Messi’s Futbol Club Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta was named best attacking midfielder and the squad’s captain, Carles Puyol, received the Fair Play award.

Real Madrid, which won the 2011-2012 first division title, was represented by Iker Casillas, best goalkeeper; Sergio Ramos, best defender; and Xabi Alonso, best defensive midfielder.

Best coach honors went to Pep Guardiola, who left Barça in May after four seasons highlighted by three Spanish titles and two Champions League crowns.

The award for top newcomer of the 2011-2012 campaign went to Francisco Alarcon, better known as “Isco,” of Malaga.

LFP players vote on the prizes for best player and best coach, while the awards for individual positions are decided by active LFP managers based on criteria set by a panel comprising respected former coaches.

Messi Could Pick Up a Fourth FIFA Ballon d’Or Award

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Lionel Messi has the chance to make soccer history…

The 25-year-old Argentine fútbol star, who just claimed his second Golden Boot award, is among the 23 players in the running for the 2012 FIFA Ballon d’Or award.

Should he come out on top, Messi, who made history by claiming the award the last three years in a row, would become the only player to claim the award four times.

But Messi will face stiff competition from several noted players, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi Hernandez, this year’s runners-up for the world’s best player award.

Here’s a look at the nominees:

Real Madrid Players:
Cristiano Ronaldo
Iker Casillas
Mesut Ozil
Karim Benzema
Sergio Ramos
Xabi Alonso

Barcelona Players:
Lionel Messi
Andres Iniesta
Sergio Busquets
Gerard Pique
Xavi Hernandez

Atletico Madrid Player:
Radamel Falcao

Manchester City Players:
Mario Balotelli
Sergio Aguero
Yaya Toure

Manchester United Players:
Wayne Rooney
Robin van Persie

Juventus Players:
Andrea Pirlo
Gianluigi Buffon

Shanghai Shenhua Player:
Didier Drogba

PSG Player:
Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Bayern Munich Player:
Manuel Neuer

Santos Player:
Neymar

The final three candidates will be revealed on November 29 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in Zurich on January 7, 2013, when the player who receives the most votes from coaches and captains of international teams, as well as reporters, will be announced.

Messi Earns His Second European Golden Boot

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Lionel Messi is getting the boot again…

The 25-year-old Argentine striker received his second Golden Boot for being the top scorer in the European national leagues, thanks to his 50 goals last season with Futbol Club Barcelona in Spain’s La Liga.

And Messi, who was named the best international athlete at this year’s ESPY Awards, is ready for more accolades.

“My objective is to achieve many more great things,” said Messi, who claimed his third straight Ballon d’Or in January. “I’ve always been that way and I will be that way until the end of my career.”

Messi insisted, however, that what he really cares about are team honors, as he thanked his Barcelona teammates for helping him to a second Golden Boot.

“We fight to win titles. We’re lucky to be doing very well in Liga and in Champions (League), and tomorrow we begin the competition for the Copa del Rey, but I don’t battle for the Golden Boot,” said Messi.

Messi received the award at a gala event in Barcelona, where he was joined by teammates from Barça and the coach of the Argentine national team along with other prominent figures in soccer and sports.

Messi accepted the Golden Boot from former player and coach Luis Suarez, the only Spanish recipient of the Ballon d’Or, FIFA’s prize for World Player of the Year.

Messi, who has never played for another professional club, said his dream is to end his career with FC Barcelona.

Messi: Best Player in Europe Award Finalist

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He’s already been named the best international athlete at the Espy Awards… And now Lionel Messi could be named the best fútbol player in Europe.

The 25-year-old Argentine soccer sensation, who has won FIFA’s Ballon d’Or for three years in a row, has been shortlisted for the 2011-12 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. He’ll face-off against his Futbol Club Barcelona teammate Andrés Iniesta and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

The three soccer stars gained the most points in a vote among 53 sports journalists representing each of the European soccer governing body’s member associations. The finalists are all being recognized for their great performance overall performance last season.

Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo came in fourth in the election, while Barcelona’s Xavi, who finished second in last year’s edition of the award, rounded out the top five.

The remaining three players will now go into a deciding vote in Monaco during the Champions League group stage draw on August 30.

Messi was the last year’s winner.

Messi Named Best International Athlete at ESPY Awards

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

The people have spoken… And, they’ve named Lionel Messi the best of the best…

The 25-year-old Argentine fútbol star—who claimed his third straight Ballon d’Or in January—was named Best International Athlete during Wednesday night’s ESPY Awards, which celebrate the year’s best athletes and moments in sports.

Messi, who plays for Futbol Club Barcelona in Spain’s La Liga, beat out some of the world’s biggest sports stars for the title, including tennis superstar Novak Djokovic, LPGA Championship winner Yani Tseng and his Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

During his record-breaking season, Messi scored 50 goals in La Liga and an unmatched 73 goals in all competitions. He also finished as the UEFA Champions League‘s top scorer for a fourth consecutive season with 14 goals.

But Messi wasn’t the only Latino athlete recognized…

Mario Gutierrez, who rode I’ll Have Another to victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, won as best jockey.

The 25-year-old Mexican jockey beat out Javier Castellano, Ramon Dominguez  and John Velazquez for the trophy.

Award winners are selected exclusively through online fan voting from the list of candidates selected by the ESPY Select Nominating Committee.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Lionel Messi