THE BEST SOCCER PLAYERS

Lionel Messi Lionel Andrés Messi is a best soccer player in the world now. He won Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player in 2009 and 2010. He is an Argentine footballer who currently plays for FC Barcelona. He plays as a striker or winger. Lionel Messi was born 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina. His father is Jorge Horacio Messi, a factory steel worker, and his mother is Celia María Cuccittini, a part-time cleaner. His paternal family ancestor is from Italy. At the age of five, Messi started playing football for Grandoli, then he joined to Newell's Old Boys at 8. At the age of 11, he suffered a growth hormone deficiency. It needs much money for treat it, and FC Barcelona offered to pay his medical treatment if Messi move to Spain. Barcelona very impressed with Messi talent. Then Messi and his father moved to Barcelona where Messi joined the club's youth academy. His playing style and ability have compare to Diego Maradona, who himself declared Messi as his &qu

Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has won the inaugural Fifa Ballon d'Or award at a ceremony in Zurich. Messi, 23, won the prize - a merger of the Fifa Player of the Year prize and Ballon d'Or - ahead of his Barca team-mates Andres Iniesta and Xavi. "I'm surprised to win but pleased to be here with my friends," said Messi, who won the two separate awards last year. Jose Mourinho, who won an unprecedented Treble with Inter Milan in 2010, was named the Coach of the Year. Messi added: "To win it makes it even more special. I want to share it with all of my friends, my family, all the Barcelonistas and the Argentinians." Hamit Altintop won the Puskas Award for Goal of the Year for his wonder volley when Turkey played Kazakhstan, Brazilian striker Marta won the Women's Player of the Year for a fifth consecutive time and Germany's Silvia Neid won the Women's Coach of the Year. The last player to win the Ballon d'Or award

Wayne Rooney, who is expected to be crowned the PFA player-of-the-year on Sunday evening, has hailed Lionel Messi as the best player in the world. The Manchester United star, who will miss the remainder of the Premier League campaign with a groin injury, has scored 34 goals this season and elevated himself amongst the world's best players. However, having watched Barcelona star Messi at close quarters, Rooney himself feels Messi is the outstanding star of this generation. "It's nice that people put me up there but I think Lionel Messi is the best in the world," he told United Review. "The things he can do with the ball are unbelievable and he is scoring a lot of goals as well. "He has been fantastic again this year. He is the best player in the world." Rooney is the clear favourite to win the PFA player-of-the-year and he is also nominated for a third triumph in the young player category as well. The 24-year-old could become only the third pla