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Lionel Messi 2015
Lionel M ESSI
The best…masterful Messi The best…masterful Messi
Scaling new Scaling new height s
Aye year on from Argentina’sar on from Argentina’s defeat in the 2014 Worlddefeat in the 2014 World Cu Cup final, Lionel Messi isp final, Lionel Messi is back on top of the world. back on top of the world. The Barcelona and Argentina star isThe Barcelona and Argentina star is Wor ld Soccer’s Playes Player of the Year forr of the Year for a record four a record fourth th time, having prev time, having previously iously wo won the award back in 2009, 2011n the award back in 2009, 2011 and 2012.
Me Messi’s victory in 2015 means hessi’s victory in 2015 means he overtakes his great arch-rival Cristianoovertakes his great arch-rival Cristiano Ro Ronaldo (winner in 2008, 2013 andnaldo (winner in 2008, 2013 and 20142014) and his predecessor at Barca,) and his predecessor at Barca, th the Brazilian Ronaldo (199e Brazilian Ronaldo (1996, 19976, 1997 and 2002).
De Debate will, of course, rage as to whobate will, of course, rage as to who can lay claim to the title of the world’scan lay claim to the title of the world’s greatest-greatest-ever player. While Argentina’sever player. While Argentina’s defeat in Brazil has ensured that Worlddefeat in Brazil has ensured that World Cup winners Pele and Diego MaradonaCup winners Pele and Diego Maradona can still keep a hand on the crown,can still keep a hand on the crown, Me Messi did ssi did everything possible in 2015everything possible in 2015 to to remind the world of his brilliance. remind the world of his brilliance.
A hugely impressive t A hugely impressive tre reble of ble of Champions League, Champions League, La La Liga and Copa Liga and Copa del Rey was complemented by thedel Rey was complemented by the UEFA Super UEFA Super Cu Cup and, at the yearp and, at the year’s ’s end, end, th the Club Worlde Club World Cup. The only cloud on Cup. The only cloud on Ba Barc rcelona’s horizon was a defeat toelona’s horizon was a defeat to At Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super hletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup. Even then, there was a silverCup. Even then, there was a silver lining as Messi’s goal in the second lining as Messi’s goal in the second leg, albeit with Bilbao having leg, albeit with Bilbao having ta take ken a four-goal lead fromn a four-goal lead from the first leg, was one of six competitions in which he scored in
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