FCBARCELONA.CAT

24.06.2010 10:50

Messi’s happy birthday

Edgar Fornós

Messi is celebrating his 23rd birthday during the best time of his career so far as he is considered to be the best player on the planet and is hoping to complete another outstanding season by guiding Argentina to World Cup success in South Africa.

Like a good wine the Blaugrana star is improving with age and every season he appears to raise his game to an even greater level and exceed what he has done the previous term. After making his name around the globe in recent years, Messi is now widely recognised as the best and has been honoured with the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year gong. The forward has also won the Pichichi award and the European Golden Boot for his goalscoring feats.

Ten years

Messi arrived in Barcelona ten years ago at the age of 13 and in that decade he has flourished while making his way up through the Camp Nou ranks. Having played for almost every level the number 10 was given his first-team debut during the 2004/05 campaign and is now looking forward to starting his seventh campaign with Barça.

World stage

After a long season with the Spanish league champions Messi is now focussed on helping his country to become the world champions. Seen by everyone as the key player for Argentina in South Africa he will take on a club-mate Rafael Márquez in the second round encounter with Mexico to book a place in the quarter finals of the competition.