Barcelona and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi capped a wonderful year when he was awarded the World Cup Soccer Jersey 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year. And it was a year full of many highlights.
The award came on the back of the recent announcement that Messi was the winner of the prestigious Ballon d’Or for 2009.
But on the field is where we want to focus as Messi helped FC Barcelona claim an unprecedented six titles in the calendar year, whilst also seeing his native Argentina clinch qualification for the 2010 World Cup.
Indeed, it has been a year of complete success for Messi winning the UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, Spanish La Liga, Spanish Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup and UEFA Super Cup along with his individual honours.
And his latest honour was unanimous as he claimed 1,073 votes, some 700 more than second-placed Cristiano Ronaldo.
So here is Sports Pundit’s list of Messi’s brilliant moments in 2009.
5.
CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers, 14-Oct
Uruguay 0 Argentina 1
Messi openly admitted his form at international level in 2009 wasn’t up to scratch but he still did enough to help Argentina qualify for the 2010 World Cup after a tumultuous campaign under Diego Maradona.
For a while it had seemed Argentina would fail to secure automatic qualification in South America but in mid-October in Montevideo they sealed their passage with a hard-fought victory over Uruguay.
There was no dream late winner from Messi, but he was involved in the decisive goal as he and Juan Sebastian Veron set up Mario Bolatti from a set-piece. And Messi has ominously promised his international form will improve at next year’s World Cup.
4.
Copa del Rey Final, 13-May
Athletic Bilbao 1 FC Barcelona 4
This triumph would be Messi and boss Pep Guardiola’s first of many in 2009, although they had to do it the hard way after Bilbao took the lead early through Gaizka Toquero.
And the Basque side fought hard after their early strike but Yaya Toure equalized for Barca before the break. Still going into half-time, Barca weren’t totally on top. That was until the second-half, when Barcelona started with 20 minutes of wonderful football producing three goals.
Messi was at the heart of it all, missing a pair of opportunities before he put the Catalans ahead on 54 minutes. Messi’s pinpoint pass set up Bojan Krkic for the third before Xavi sealed it. It was the step one complete in the treble for Messi and Barcelona.
3.
Club World Cup Final, 19-Dec
Estudiantes La Plata 1 FC Barcelona 2
Messi struck an extra-time winner as Barcelona fought back from the brink of defeat against the South American champions, to complete a historic sixth title in the one year with victory in Abu Dhabi.
Mauro Boselli had put Estudiantes ahead before the break and Barca looked destined for disappointment until Pedro Rodriguez equalized on 88 minutes.
And then 20 minutes into extra-time, Messi popped up at the right place at the right time to chest home the winner to ensure a fairytale year was complete. It was a fitting end.
2.
Spanish La Liga, 2-May
Real Madrid 2 FC Barcelona 6
Mathematically, Barcelona won the title on May 16 after their nearest rivals, Real Madrid, slipped up but their 6-2 El Clasico rout at the Bernabeu had sealed the deal a fortnight earlier. Barca led Real by just four points going into the clash with five league games left, so the stage was set for a crucial encounter.
But Messi was imperious in a display which left little doubt as to the destination of the 2008/2009 La Liga crown. And Barcelona did it in emphatic style in their rival’s backyard. It was truly incredible stuff.
In typical 2009 Barca style, they trailed early before hitting back with three first-half goals with Messi claiming one as well as an assist. Messi grabbed another after the break, as Barcelona inflicted real misery on Real Madrid piling on the goals in a decisive victory.
1.
UEFA Champions League Final, 27-May
FC Barcelona 2 Manchester United 0
Despite the pressure of completing the 2008/2009 treble against the reigning European champions Manchester United, Messi and Barcelona rose to the occasion in Rome to lift the Champions League trophy with the Argentine grabbing the decisive goal.
Barcelona were brilliant all evening with fluent football and while Messi’s magic wasn’t totally shining, he wouldn’t be denied in the grand stage. Samuel Eto’o had put Barcelona ahead after 10 minutes but their result remained open well into the second-half.
That was until Messi intervened, for once with his head, when he produced the sealer on 70 minutes from Xavi’s cross. The result was right as Barcelona produced a dominant display as 2008 World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo bowed to the new maestro Messi.
Finally, In Messi’s Words
"A magnificent year for me and Barca has ended in the best way. I have the good fortune to play in a great team. It was an historic year for Barca and for me but it's thanks to the work of everyone.”
He added, "I'm extremely happy. We've just ended a historic year, a perfect year in which we've won every competition we've played in. We just needed to take this last step and everything has worked out how we wanted. It's amazing."
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