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World Player of the Week: Lionel Messi - Barcelona
Join Goal.com in saluting another player worthy of global recognition
Aug 22, 2011 9:00:00 AM
Getty
Welcome to Goal.com's regular feature: Goal.com World Player of the Week. Each week our worldwide team of editors will put forward a selected candidate, as chosen by Goal.com International, who deserves recognition for achieving something special that matchday. It won't necessarily be the best player in the world - at least not usually - but whoever we nominate will have done something amazing. It might be for a particularly awesome performance or for something praiseworthy off the pitch - either way, the person in question deserves special attention...
Goal.com World Player of the Week #118: Lionel Messi
Club: Barcelona
Country: Argentina
Age: 24
Role: Forward
Achievement: Proved to be pivotal in Supercopa victory over Real Madrid
In the end, Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho stole the spotlight for their behaviour but for those who are interested in football, then there was only one man whose name was on everyone’s lips - Lionel Messi.
The 24-year-old performed to his best in the second-leg of Barca’s Supercopa clash against Madrid at Camp Nou, as the defending Spanish and European champions won the encounter 3-2 and the two-legged tie 5-4 on aggregate.
Messi set up Andres Iniesta’s opener after just 15 minutes and himself found his way past Iker Casillas in the Madrid goal on the stroke of half-time. Then with just two minutes of normal time left on the clock, he volleyed home the winner from close range.
The Primera Division has yet to begin but Messi has already given a glimpse of what he plans to do - destroy opposition defences week in, week out.
Congratulations to Lionel Messi, Goal.com's 118th World Player of the Week!
Honourable Mentions
Sergio Aguero - Manchester City
The Argentina international had a dream debut against Swansea City in the Premier League last Monday. Aguero came on as a substitute with City 1-0 up and from there on, he stole the show.
The former Atletico Madrid striker scored twice, his second from 25 yards out, and created David Silva’s goal with a sensational piece of skill. Roberto Mancini’s side won 4-0 that evening, and although Aguero failed to maintain that level against Bolton Wanderers on Sunday, his entry into English football will be long remembered.
Arjen Robben - Bayern Munich
The flying Dutch winger has commenced the 2011-12 campaign brilliantly and has already exhibited what an important player he is going to be for the Bavarians.
Robben set up Bastian Schweinsteiger’s opener against Zurich in the first-leg of their Champions League play-off tie at home and also scored the second goal in that game. Against Hamburg in their 5-0 Bundesliga victory on Saturday, the Netherlands international was once more in superb form, setting up Daniel van Buyten for his goal, and also found the target himself in the encounter.
Jan Schlaudraff - Hannover
Sevilla may hold the edge over Hannover in their Europa League play-off tie given that they have an away goal, but there can be no denying that Schlaudraff was the outstanding player in the first-leg in Germany last week. He scored twice to give his team a 2-1 lead into the second-leg.
Mac Kandji - Colorado Rapids
The Senegalese forward made his first start in nine months last Wednesday and scored two goals plus the game-winning assist in a 3-2 win over Metapan in the Concacaf Champions League. Since an injury in November, Kandji has only played seven minutes as a substitute, so to come back in such scintillating form was hugely impressive.
Luis Suarez - Liverpool
The Uruguay international forward came on as a substitute against Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday for the last 20 minutes and was involved in both the goals as Liverpool marched on to a 2-0 Premier League win. Suarez played a crucial role in the Reds’ first goal and himself netted the second with ease.
Oscar - Brazil U20
Brazil defeated Portugal to win the Fifa Under-20 World Cup last week and the man who ran the show in the final was Oscar. He scored all three goals as the South Americans defeated their European counterparts 3-2 after extra-time.
| Bet: | Returns: | Bilbao £85.00 | Draw £55.00 | Barcelona £12.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Bilbao £95.00 | Draw £55.00 | Barcelona £12.90 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Bilbao £90.00 | Draw £50.00 | Barcelona £13.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Bilbao £90.00 | Draw £60.00 | Barcelona £12.90 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Bilbao £87.00 | Draw £53.00 | Barcelona £12.50 |
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Goal.com World Player of the Week #118: Lionel Messi
Club: Barcelona
Country: Argentina
Age: 24
Role: Forward
Achievement: Proved to be pivotal in Supercopa victory over Real Madrid
In the end, Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho stole the spotlight for their behaviour but for those who are interested in football, then there was only one man whose name was on everyone’s lips - Lionel Messi.
The 24-year-old performed to his best in the second-leg of Barca’s Supercopa clash against Madrid at Camp Nou, as the defending Spanish and European champions won the encounter 3-2 and the two-legged tie 5-4 on aggregate.
Messi set up Andres Iniesta’s opener after just 15 minutes and himself found his way past Iker Casillas in the Madrid goal on the stroke of half-time. Then with just two minutes of normal time left on the clock, he volleyed home the winner from close range.
The Primera Division has yet to begin but Messi has already given a glimpse of what he plans to do - destroy opposition defences week in, week out.
Congratulations to Lionel Messi, Goal.com's 118th World Player of the Week!
Honourable Mentions
Sergio Aguero - Manchester City
The Argentina international had a dream debut against Swansea City in the Premier League last Monday. Aguero came on as a substitute with City 1-0 up and from there on, he stole the show.
The former Atletico Madrid striker scored twice, his second from 25 yards out, and created David Silva’s goal with a sensational piece of skill. Roberto Mancini’s side won 4-0 that evening, and although Aguero failed to maintain that level against Bolton Wanderers on Sunday, his entry into English football will be long remembered.
Arjen Robben - Bayern Munich
The flying Dutch winger has commenced the 2011-12 campaign brilliantly and has already exhibited what an important player he is going to be for the Bavarians.
Robben set up Bastian Schweinsteiger’s opener against Zurich in the first-leg of their Champions League play-off tie at home and also scored the second goal in that game. Against Hamburg in their 5-0 Bundesliga victory on Saturday, the Netherlands international was once more in superb form, setting up Daniel van Buyten for his goal, and also found the target himself in the encounter.
Jan Schlaudraff - Hannover
Sevilla may hold the edge over Hannover in their Europa League play-off tie given that they have an away goal, but there can be no denying that Schlaudraff was the outstanding player in the first-leg in Germany last week. He scored twice to give his team a 2-1 lead into the second-leg.
Mac Kandji - Colorado Rapids
The Senegalese forward made his first start in nine months last Wednesday and scored two goals plus the game-winning assist in a 3-2 win over Metapan in the Concacaf Champions League. Since an injury in November, Kandji has only played seven minutes as a substitute, so to come back in such scintillating form was hugely impressive.
Luis Suarez - Liverpool
The Uruguay international forward came on as a substitute against Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday for the last 20 minutes and was involved in both the goals as Liverpool marched on to a 2-0 Premier League win. Suarez played a crucial role in the Reds’ first goal and himself netted the second with ease.
Oscar - Brazil U20
Brazil defeated Portugal to win the Fifa Under-20 World Cup last week and the man who ran the show in the final was Oscar. He scored all three goals as the South Americans defeated their European counterparts 3-2 after extra-time.
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Athletic Bilbao - FC Barcelona
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