Another stat for you via OptaJean: Lionel Messi has scored more goals (29) and delivered more assists (17) than any other player in the top 5 leagues this season. Decent.
I love the fact that he didn't talk for 24 hours. Winner as Charlie Sheen would probably say. Messi is such a child when it comes to football. And that's a compliment.
In the 16 official games he played in 2011, Messi at least scored 1 goal or gave 1 assist every game (via barcastuff)
And I don't think he's even been as brilliant in 2011 as he was in the first half of the season.
When CR9 won it in 2008 (or should it be in 2009? Anyway...) for his 42-goal season in 07/08, he had a nothing Euro 2008 and not a very good start for his 08/09 season. Yet he still won it because of the douple with United. So if Barcelona win something, I think it's quite plausible that Messi...
Decent in the first half, nice assist for Villa's goal. But I don't understand for the life of me what they were trying to do in the second half. Sit on a 1-0 lead? That's not really the Barca-way, is it?
It's quite ridiculous to think, after hearing some of the transfer fees going around in England, that Messi barely cost anything to Barcelona. The same with Iniesta, Xavi, Puyol, Valdes, Pedro etc.
All-time Barcelona goalscorers > Cesar 235 - Kubala 196 - Samitier 178 - Escola 164 - Messi 162 (messistats)
Quite incredible to think that if he scores 30 more goals this season, he will be second. At the age of 23. And if he continues from here, he will be the all time highest goalscorer in...
From Pique's interview with SI.
"I follow you on Twitter, so I know you have a good sense of humor. Who would you say is the funniest player in the Barcelona dressing room?
We have a couple of those fun players. There's Dani Alves and there's Leo Messi, but they have different styles of humor...
From barcastuff
"Messi has been given a yellow card and a fine (2 to 3.000 euros) for showing a shirt congratulaing his mother this weekend."
"the fine messi has to pay would in the end be 2.000 euros."
It's rather ridiculous. He gets fined more for congratulating his mother than my mother...
I sometimes question why Messi plays every single game for Barcelona. He starts again against Betis even though Barcelona are 5-0 up from the first leg. For goodness sake, rest the guy.
Slightly off-topic:
Cruyff, Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo were options to hand the Ballon d'Or to Messi on Monday. In the end, Guardiola did it (barcastuff)
I would have probably fallen off my seat laughing if they had made Ronaldo do it. His face would have been priceless.
Confusing this. Messi has said that he hasn't broken up with his girlfriend: Messi: "Is it true I broke up with my girlfriend? No, that's a lie. But for the rest, I don't talk about my private life." (from barcastuff).