FCBARCELONA.CAT

10.12.2009 12:15

The year of Lionel Messi

Sandra Sarmiento

For FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi 2009 will be an unforgettable year as the team completed a unique treble of trophies and the player was seen as the best in the world. Revista Barça spoke to the Argentinian forward about the last 12 months.

In an extensive interview Messi gave his thoughts on his rise to prominence from a star with incredible potential to a fully fledged match-winner as he helped Barça to win the domestic title and Copa del Rey as well as the Champions League in the same season, before starting the current campaign by lifting the Spanish and European Super Cups.

Flattering praise

In the poll for France Football's coveted Ballon d'Or Messi received 90 of the 96 votes. "It is flattering to hear that because there are some other great players around, but it is also incredible," he explained. "Since I was young I have dreamt about winning these awards. When I then reached the Barça first team I did not give them as much importance. But it is like a dream come true now for me and for my father because of everything that we have been through together."

Getafe stunner

Looking back at his career Messi revealed that his best goal came against Getafe in the Copa del Rey when he ran with the ball from the halfway line. "Because of the move, the way it happened and the way it evolved it was very special," he explained. Other games that stick out are the Joan Gamper performance against Juventus and his hat-trick against Real Madrid. "Above all because of the reaction of the supporters," he added.

Headed goals

The Champions League win in Rome in 2009 will be remembered because of Messi's fine headed goal. "A few years ago, when the squad played tennis with a football, Ángel Mur always said that nobody knew about that strength of mine," the forward continued. "I had never had the luck of scoring a header before, but that day I did and it was perfect." Admitting that players never stop learning, Messi stated: "I would like to learn how to take free-kicks."

Rijkaard and Guardiola

Messi then spoke about Frank Rijkaard and the debt that he feels towards the Dutch coach for giving him his first-team chance. "He gave me a lot of confidence," he explained. "That was fundamental for me. There were games when he did not start me and I was annoyed, but I now know that was best for me. I want to thank him a great deal for everything that he did for my career." Under Pep Guardiola now Messi feels he has matured even more. "It is important how you feel both on the pitch and off it and he is someone that looks at the human side of things," he added.

No coaching

Having penned a new contract extension until 2016 recently Messi explained that he has no intention of leaving Camp Nou. "I would never go because I have everything here," he explained. "I play for the biggest club in the world and live in a marvellous city. Why would I change? I will change the way I have always done things." Messi then stated that he will walk away from football when he stops playing. "I do not like to watch football on television," he said. "I do not like seeing games I have played in or anything else. When I finish playing I think I will do something else. I like to play but not to watch it. I do not want to be a coach either."