Messi Nothing Without His Teammates?

Racing Santander coach, Juan Ramón Lopez Muniz, says Lionel Messi would be nothing without his team-mates:

"Messi without his team-mates would be nothing, although alone he is a great footballer himself."

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Dani Alves the best player in the world?

"He offers killer passes and crunching tackles: a screeching lunatic kid, perfect technician, tactical genius and - let's face it - sneaky little cheat, all wrapped into one hyperactive ball. A footballing Sonic the Hedgehog."

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Abidal Says Messi is Best Ever

Barcelona defender, Eric Abidal has said that he has never seen a better side than the one he is in now, and that Lionel Messi is the best player he has watched.

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Messi Runs Through The Jungle

Felipe Says Robben Not as Good as Messi

"Robben is skilfil, fast and can cause defences problems, but there is no point in comparisons because nobody can touch Messi at the moment."

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Kaka Scores Two...

in Milan's 4-1 demolition of Bologna.

The second was a left-footed beauty.

Messi Scores Two

Lionel Messi scored twice as leaders Barcelona overcame Numancia 4-1 at the Nou Camp to go 15 points clear at the top of the Primera Liga on Saturday.

Hiddink says Gerrard is Best Player in the World

'I very much preferred Gerrard...He has superb technical and tactical qualities and I admire his spirit and attitude on the pitch...It has everything to do with his passion for the game and my passion for football...He is a player who fans can identify themselves with and a man who carries the love for his club on his club badge...There is not another player in the world who combines all those qualities. He is the type of player who appeals so much more to me than Cristiano Ronaldo.'

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Xavi Laughs at Thought of Messi Joining Real

"You have to be joking, I think everyone at Barcelona is intelligent enough not to let the best player in the world go."

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Over 3 Million Votes for UEFA Team of the Year

"More than 3.3 million votes were cast by about 256,000 users, whose resulting dream team features six members of the Spain side that conquered Europe last summer. Iker Casillas is the goalkeeper, playing behind two international team-mates in right-back Sergio Ramos and centre-back Carles Puyol. The continental champions strongly influence the central sphere of operations, with Xavi Hernández being the pick in the middle of the park and Cesc Fàbregas handed the role of attacking midfielder. Fernando Torres lines up in attack."

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Why Ronaldo Played Against Derby

'Phelan said Ronaldo needed a goal, having failed to score for 11 games since United's 5-0 win against Stoke on 15 November. "It is unusual for Cristiano to go so long without scoring," Phelan said. "We had a plan and it was to get him on to the pitch and, hopefully, get him to score a goal. From that point of view it worked for us and it was his first penalty for a while as well. That's good for him and we hope now his confidence will be up there again."'

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Madrid Boss Says Robben is Better Than Messi

"Robben is the more entertaining and I would not change him for Messi. He is the more electric player."

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Sir Alex Wouldn't Sell Ronaldo for 120 Million

'But there is no chance the owners would want to sell him even if City came calling with £120million this summer. I am absolutely sure of it...They want him here even more than me. They are strong about that.'

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Messi Doesn't Want a Kaka Situation

He wants to stay at Barca forever:

"I would love to stay here for my whole life...Let's hope it turns out like that!''

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Beckham Tells Kaka What it's all About

"He is one of the best players in the world and it is obvious that the best players are always the focus of speculation."

"But he loves Italy and he loves Milan. I don't think he will leave.''

"I don't think anybody in the dressing room is thinking about how much money they can earn,''

"It's about playing with the best team with the best players in the world and winning trophies and it's not always about money."

"Riccardo doesn't need my advice. He will decide what he wants to do, but he loves Milan.''

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A Craque Piece on Kaka

Antonio Maria Filho is a Brazilian sports writer and author of the weekly column Panorama Esportivo in Brazil's O Globo newspaper, who wrote a great (craque) piece for the Guardian on his pick for best player in the world.

Filho says:

"If Manchester City have the money to hire the best player in the world, congratulations to them. They will not regret the investment. It matters little if Kaka came in behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Fernando Torres at Fifa's Gala contest this month. This does not mean he is a worse player. It is one thing to have a great season; it is quite another to be a genuine superstar."

"Kaka is the best player on planet earth and wasn't credited as such in Zurich only because 2008 held some disappointments for him – physical problems that put him on the surgeon's table, preventing him from showing his art at Milan or even in the Brazil side. Had it not been for these problems, he had everything to have finished in first place like the year before."

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Maradona Thinks World Player Rules Are Stupid

"I had to choose somebody else, knowing that Lionel Messi is the best player in the world," the Argentina coach told reporters, adding that he had voted for Manchester United and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo instead.

Maradona said the rules banned coaches from voting for players from their own country.

"Whoever thought that up is stupid," he said.

"It's incredible, I voted for Ronaldo when I wanted to vote for Messi but I couldn't."

Here, as you all know, we let the fans decided - and they can for anyone they like...

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Scolari says Lampard is Best Player in the World

Luiz Felipe Scolari was gushing with praise for Frank Lampard after the midfield man scored the late winner today against Stoke City:

"If one day, maybe after two or three years, I go back to a national team and have a chance to vote for the best player in the world I will vote for Lampard...He's not only a player, he's a man. He likes his job, he likes to play. Every day what you need he gives to you. Before I had pressure, now I don't have pressure thanks to him."

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Messi Gets Knock on the Ankle

If Lionel Messi is going to be the Best Player in the World in 2009 he's going to have to stay healthy.

Apparently he has had a knock on his ankle in the the Copa del Rey against Athletico Madrid:

"Most worrying was the news that Lionel Messi, who only featured in the last 20 minutes of the clash against Atleti, was absent due to a knock on his left ankle."

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Lampard says Drogba is Best Striker in the World

''Hopefully he will remain a massive part of this club because he's definitely one of, if not the best, strikers in the world...Didier is a very big personality and player at this club and he will take it in the right way, I'm sure."

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Rivaldo Picks Messi Too

The 1999 World Player of the Year says this about Messi:

"Between Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, I go with Messi. For me he is the best in the world...Cristiano is very good and you cannot argue about him getting all those awards because he has won a lot of titles and scored 42 goals, but I'm with Leo...For me, Messi is more aggressive than Cristiano, he reminds me of myself. Leo has a good attitude, can decide games and he is always trying to go forward no matter how many kicks he gets. And all this at only 21 years old."

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Robben Thinks Messi is on Another Planet

Real Madrid's Arjen Robben has quickly responded to the idea that he might be as good as Barcelona's Lionel Messi:

"For me, Messi is the best player in the world. What more can I say? I think he is in incredible form, he's on another planet, he's the best, he's different,"

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Ronaldo in Disguise in Nike LoveHate7 Ad

He poses as a Mancunian and says with an attemtped accent:

“He’s the best player in the world . . . mate!”

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Love Him or Hate Him #7 is the Best Player in the World for 2008

Ronaldo Wins FIFA World Player of the Year Award for 2008

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Ronaldo Crashes His Ferrari

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Marcotti Says Ronaldo Has Promised Himself to Real

"Cristiano Ronaldo has, via Jorge Mendes, his agent, reached a verbal agreement with Florentino Pérez, the former Real Madrid president, to join the Spanish club, according to reports in Spain. It is understood that Pérez will use this promise when he stands for election as Real president in 2010."

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Messi Must Be Protected

Barcelona president Joan Laporta:

"He's an extraordinary talent, we have to take care of him. It was a beautiful experience for him at the Calderon in the way he was acclaimed and hopefully this will happen at many other stadiums...He is now growing into his leadership role. Messi was destined to become a leader both for Barca and Argentina. He is one of the best players in the world."

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Pepe Compares Robben to Messi

"Both are in great form, they are the two best players in the league and make the difference...If I had to choose, it is easy to say Robben, because he's a teammate, but they are both very good."

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Messi Hat Trick Versus Athletico

Pele Thinks Kaka's Loyalty to Club Makes Him Better Than Ronaldo

"Cristiano Ronaldo is an extraordinary player, who reminds me of George Best. And I like the other boy at Manchester too, Rooney. But I prefer Kaka...For years now, Madrid have tried to sign him but he wanted to remain faithful to Milan and I like that. Why would you leave a team that treats you so well and where you can win so many honours?...There aren't many these days like Kaka and myself. I really dislike seeing players constantly changing clubs and always kissing their new shirts."

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Eto'o has no Problem with Messi's Late Return from Winter Break

"For me, Messi could come the same day of the match. If I were coach he would play absolutely every time."

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Messi Doesn't Want Barca to Relax

"We would be very wrong if we thought that the Liga was already in our pocket, even if it is true that we have a comfortable points advantage...That simply means that we must be very careful and not relax...The key to our success so far has been the confidence we have in ourselves, we believe in our chances and have the cushion of points that allows us to have confidence to continue working as we are doing."

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