Lionel Andrés Messi born 24 June 1987 is an Argentine footballer who plays for FC Barcelona. He also won the 2010–11 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. His playing style and small stature has drawn comparisons to Diego Maradona, who himself declared Messi as his "successor.". Messi has wonfive La Liga titles, three Champions League titles, scoring in two of those finals, against Manchester United in both 2009 and 2011. He was not on the pitch as Barcelona defeated Arsenal in 2006,but received a winners' medal from thetournament. After scoring 12 goals in the 2010–11 Champions League, Messi became only the third player (afterGerd Müller and Jean-Pierre Papin) to top-score in three successive European Champion Clubs' Cup campaigns. However,Messi is the first one towin the ChampionsLeague top scorer titles for three consecutive years after Champions League changed its format in 1992. Messi is Barcelona's second highest goalscorer surpassing László Kubala on 194 goals and now only is behind César Rodríguez Álvarez on 235 goals in all official competitions. Messi won the 2011 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, beating his FC Barcelona team-mate Xavi Hernández and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.
Lionel Andrés Messi born 24 June 1987 is an Argentine footballer who plays for FC Barcelona. He also won the 2010–11 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. His playing style and small stature has drawn comparisons to Diego Maradona, who himself declared Messi as his "successor.". Messi has wonfive La Liga titles, three Champions League titles, scoring in two of those finals, against Manchester United in both 2009 and 2011. He was not on the pitch as Barcelona defeated Arsenal in 2006,but received a winners' medal from thetournament. After scoring 12 goals in the 2010–11 Champions League, Messi became only the third player (afterGerd Müller and Jean-Pierre Papin) to top-score in three successive European Champion Clubs' Cup campaigns. However,Messi is the first one towin the ChampionsLeague top scorer titles for three consecutive years after Champions League changed its format in 1992. Messi is Barcelona's second highest goalscorer surpassing László Kubala on 194 goals and now only is behind César Rodríguez Álvarez on 235 goals in all official competitions. Messi won the 2011 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, beating his FC Barcelona team-mate Xavi Hernández and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.