Friday, January 27th, 2012
Messi coverboy on Time Magazine (Photo: Time)
TIME COVER: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH LIONEL MESSI
This week’s international edition of TIME features football star Lionel Messi on the cover with the title, “King Leo.” In an exclusive interview with TIME’s Bobby Ghosh, the Argentina native and FC Barcelona superstar speaks to TIME about handling criticism from his fellow countrymen and how he still has room to improve his unreal skills. Ghosh writes, “Lionel Messi is the best football player in the world – possibly of all time. So why won’t his countrymen love him?”
Highlights from the conversation:
On accusations from critics that he puts club ahead of country: ”[Critics] said things that weren’t true, that I didn’t care as much about wearing the [Argentine] shirt….I’ve never stopped being Argentine, and I’ve never wanted to.”
On his reception in Argentina when he returns home: ”Before there was a lot of criticism and everything was bad….And now it’s not like that. That’s good, because every country I go, people have always received me very well, and in my own country that wasn’t happening.”
On how he is constantly improving: ”Year after year, I’ve grown, improved….I was lucky to start very young and always have very good colleagues around me as I was coming up, and this has helped me and how I play….There’s still a lot of time to prepare and to improve.”
On whether or not he picks the virtual version of himself when playing video games: ”Of Course. How else can I win?”
Bobby Ghosh’s cover story,
Lionel Messi’s Final Goal, is included below and can be found online here:
http://ti.me/AyQZXA
TIME.com also has the following supplementary Messi content:
-Post: The Experts Weigh In: Messi May Be the Best of All Time — Except for One Thing
-Post: An Introduction to Messi: An Outsider’s Take
-Video: Behind the scenes of the Messi Interview
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Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
Messi scores another hat trick in victory over Malaga (Photo: Jorge Guerrero/AFP/Getty Images)
An inspired three-goal performance from Lionel Messi saw Barcelona defeat Malaga 4-1 at La Rosaleda, keeping the Catalans within striking distance of Real Madrid in the race for the La Liga title.
On the day, it was all about the Argentine, as Messi proved both the genesis and conclusion of every Barcelona attack, providing lethal through balls, daring chips and clinical finishes to record his fifth hat-trick of the season and ensure Barca remain just five points back of los blancos.
For all of his magisterial brilliance at home, Messi’s road struggles have reflected Barcelona’s inconsistency away from home this season. Indeed, the Argentine’s lone away league goal stands as a large factor behind his team’s eleven dropped points as visitors, so far this term.
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Friday, January 20th, 2012
Sport.es reporting that these will be next season kits (Photo:Sport.es)
Sport.es is reporting that they have received “exclusive” images of the new kits for the 2012/2013 season.
We will have to wait and see if this is true.
What do you think?
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Thursday, January 19th, 2012
Abidal fires the winning blast to defeat Real Madrid (Photo: REUTERS/Susana Vera)
Barcelona mounted a second half comeback to defeat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu, extracting a measure of vengeance for their defeat in last year’s Copa del Rey Final at the hands of their eternal rivals.
The Catalans would give no quarter in their quarterfinal matchup against los blancos, recording a vital victory ahead of next Wednesday’s return leg fixture at the Camp Nou.
On Josep Guardiola’s 41st birthday and Lionel Messi’s 300th official game for the blaugrana, Barcelona responded in memorable fashion, staging a two goal second half comeback for their second victory in the Bernabeu in the last month.
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Tuesday, January 17th, 2012
Alexis goal secures win for FC Barcelona against Real Betis (Photo: Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)
Alexis Sanchez’s last gasp goal saw Barcelona rally deep in the second half to defeat Real Betis 4-2 at the Camp Nou.
After a quick start, Barcelona were forced to watch Betis comeback from two goals down, nearly stealing the match and ending Barcelona’s aspirations for a fourth consecutive La Liga title. But with less than 15 minutes remaining, Alexis Sanchez stepped up to become the hero, breaking the deadlock and keeping the title race alive.
With everything on the line the defending champions showed their mettle, besting a tenacious Betis side with pedigree, belief, and guts.
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Friday, January 6th, 2012
Messi celebrates second goal against Osasuna in Copa del Rey (Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images)
Barcelona kicked off 2012 the way they finished 2011: with goals.
On the back of a 4-0 FIFA Club World Cup Championship victory over Santos and a 9-0 demolition of C.E. L’Hospitalet to wrap up a memorable 2011, Barcelona returned to action without missing a beat, defeating Osasuna 4-0 at the Camp Nou in their first match of the new year.
The reigning champions of 2011 looked determined to make a statement for 2012, running away with an easy victory over Osasuna in their Copa del Rey round of 16 fixture.
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Monday, December 19th, 2011
FC Barcelona World Champions (Photo: Getty Images)
Another scintillating performance by Leo Messi saw Barcelona dismantle Brazil’s Santos 4-0 to claim the FIFA Club World Cup Championship.
Barca enter the record books as the only club to ever win the tournament twice, giving Pep Guardiola his 13th trophy since taking over at the helm in 2008.
The Catalans took the field sporting “Mucha Fuerza Guaje” t-shirts, in honor of teammate David Villa, who broke his leg in the semifinal match against Al-Sadd.
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Friday, December 16th, 2011
Villa lost for season during Club World Cup victory of Al-Saad (Photo: AP Photo)
When is a victory considered a loss?
Barcelona’s 4-0 demolition of Qatar’s Al-Sadd Sports Club advanced Barcelona to the Club World Cup Championship against Santos, but the victory came at one hell of a price.
While hustling to get onto the end of a loose ball in the 37th minute, David Villa lost his footing, fell to the ground and never got back up.
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Friday, December 16th, 2011
FC Barcelona draw Bayer Leverkusen in round of 16 (Photo: REUTERS/Denis Balibous)
The Champions League draw for the round of 16 was held earlier this morning in Nyon, Switzerland and FC Barcelona found out that their first opponent in the elimination stage will be Bayer Leverkusen.
The first legs will take place on February 14, 15, 21, 22 with the return legs be played on March 6, 7, 13, 14.
The complete round of 16:
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Thursday, December 15th, 2011
Villa removed from pitch following leg injury (Photo: AP Photo)
Horrible news out of Japan this morning where FC Barcelona defeated Al-Sadd 0-4 in the Club World Cup semi-final and will move on to play Santos in the final.
In the 36th minute of the first half David Villa was injured running down a through ball and when he tried to control the pass twisted is left leg and fell to the ground.
It immediately looked like something was wrong when Villa waved to the sidelines for medical assistance.
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