Lionel Messi: The best player of 2012

Lionel Messi

Argentine Lionel Messi, star player of FC Barcelona and the Argentinean soccer team could be chosen as the best player of the world for the fourth consecutive year after winning the Euro Cup.

2012: The Year of Messi

Lionel Messi

In May, Lionel Messi, 25, won his second Golden Boot award for his 50 goals in the Spanish league in the 2011-12 seasons.

In August, Lio was the leading figure in the shortlist for best player in Europe, alongside Spanish Andres Iniesta (FC Barcelona) and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid).

Messi debuted as a father in November after the birth of his son Thiago with his lifetime girlfriend, Antonella Rocuzzo.

Inspired, Lionel beat one of the most important records in the history of soccer. At the end of the year, Lionel scored two goals against Betis, surpassing the record of 85 goals in a season, set by German Gerd Müller, former player of Bayern Munich in the 60’s and 70’s. Not satisfied with this achievement, Messi continued scoring goals, closing the year with 91 goals.

Lionel overcame broadly, the record of 232 goals from Cesar Rodriguez, scorer of FC Barcelona, a 57 year old record. Also, shattered the record of Romanian Dudu Georgescu, who achivend 47 goals playing for Dinamo Bucharest in the season of 1976-77.

As an added value to his remarkable year, Messi shone with the Argentinean national team and was cheered every time he ever appeared before his countrymen in the race to qualify to the World Cup Brazil 2014.

Lio close the year with 91 goals in a season and as favorite to win the FIFA’s Golden Ball