Lionel Messi Was Criticised for Winning ballon d'Or 2010

Messi Showing Why He Won 6 ballon d’Or Trophies & Deserved to Win 2 More ||

ballon d’Or 2010 , FIFA ballon d’Or , ballon d’Or Winner ||

Lionel Messi, the 2010 Ballon d’Or winner, hit a hat-trick in Barca’s 5-0 Copa del Rey win over Real Betis.

Lionel Messi celebrated his coronation as the world’s greatest player with a hat-trick for Barcelona in a 5-0 victory over second division Real Betis in their Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg. The Argentine won the 2010 Fifa Ballon d’Or on Monday, ensuring he retained title of the best footballer on the planet after securing the honour in 2009. Messi duly demonstrated why he is considered a cut above the rest with a trademark display as Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona earned a comfortable first-leg lead. Lionel Messi celebrated a second successive World Player of the Year award with a hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed second division Real Betis 5-0 in a Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg.

Messi paraded the FIFA Ballon d’Or trophy on the pitch at the Nou Camp before kick-off, flanked by team mates Andres Iniesta and Xavi who came in second and third respectively, and then took apart a valiant Betis. The Argentine scored the first just before half-time, dinking the ball over the goalkeeper from an Iniesta pass, showed persistence to score the second in the 62nd, and claimed his hat-trick with a breakaway goal 11 minutes later.

He was given a standing ovation when he was substituted near the end, with the whole stadium chanting his name. « This game will end much of the debate (about the Ballon d’Or). It is in good hands, » Barca defender Dani Alves told Spanish television. « Messi is the best and he proves it every day. The other two deserved it as well, but it’s clear he is different to the rest. » Alves went on to praise the visitors who hit the crossbar at the end of the first half, when an adventurous game plan caused Barca a lot of problems until Messi’s goals and tired legs took their toll. ||