Messi ends 2012 with 91 goals

Barça’s win at the José Zorrilla (1-3) has produced a number of curiosities, and here is a selection of the best:
- Barça’s spectacular start to the season continues. They have a total of 49 points from a possible 51, from 16 wins and 1 draw with an average of 3.35 goals scored per game.
- With two games yet to play before the halfway stage, Barça have already secured the honorary ‘winter’ title for the nineteenth time. On 11 of the previous 18 times that they have done this, they have gone on to become league champions.
- FC Barcelona have made 2012 their record breaking year. They have set Liga records for the most wins (49) and the most goals (175).
- Messi has set the world record for a goals in a single calendar year, with a grand total of 91, beating the previous all-time best set in 1972 by Germany and Bayern’s Gert Müller, who got 85. The Argentinian got 79 goals for Barça and another 12 for his national team.
- Saturday was the first time in this edition of La Liga that Leo Messi has got one goal and one goal only. That continues his remarkable record of 26 goals in 17 games so far.
- The Argentinian striker has scored in seven consecutive Liga matches. That means he is one away from equalling his personal best of eight in a row.
- Xavi, with five goals, is the team’s fifth highest scorer, after Messi, Villa, Adriano and Cesc. He got Barça’s third and final goal against Valladolid.
- Under Jordi Roura, the team enjoyed 66% of the possession and had 11 shots on goal, five of which were on target. Pedro and Messi hit the woodwork twice.

Treat Me Like Messi Or I Quit

Cristiano Ronaldo still intends to leave the Bernabeu in the summer unless he gets the full Messi treatment.

Lionel Messi signed a new contract extension this week that will keep him at Barcelona until 2018, beyond his 31st birthday.

The deal is expected to be structured so that it increases yearly, rising to £12.5million (net) a year before bonuses.

Deal me in: Cristiano Ronaldo could be heading for the Bernabeu exit

But according to Spanish newspaper Marca, Ronaldo still feels angry with the club and upset, believing he deserves the special treatment of superstars like Lionel Messi.

While Messi has renewed his contract six times during his spell at Barcelona, Ronaldo has not been offered an improved deal since his £80m move from Old Trafford in 2009.

The Portuguese winger was offered - and signed - multiple improved deals during his time under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Although Ronaldo has scored an amazing 170 goals in 169 games for Real, it is Messi who has stolen the plaudits this year.

The 25-year-old had already surpassed Gerd Muller's 40-year-old record of 85 goals in a calendar year.

The pair are both in contention for the FIFA Ballon d'Or crown, alongside Messi's team-mate at Barcelona Andres Iniesta

Record-breaking Barcelona can be happy

Barcelona caretaker coach Jordi Roura was pleased his side continued with business as usual in La Liga on Saturday.

Goals from Xavi Hernandez, Lionel Messi and Cristian Tello helped the Catalan giants to a 3-1 win over Real Valladolid as they continued their best ever start to a La Liga season.

The match was overshadowed by the ill health of Barcelona's head coach Tito Vilanova.

Vilanova had a cancerous tumour removed from his saliva gland during his time as Pep Guardiola's assistant last season, and it was announced this week he required further surgery after a reoccurrence of the issue was diagnosed.

The 44-year-old was operated on and discharged from hospital hours before the match, and will spend the next six weeks undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments.

Barcelona could easily have been distracted by Vilanova's situation, but they put in a professional performance at Estadio Municipal Jose Zorilla.

"It is true that today the game was a bit special because of the situation surrounding us," Vilanova's assistant Roura said.

"But if we just talk about sport, it was just another match and three more points. The game was a bit difficult but we managed to finally win it. I think that in the first part, we dominated the game and we had our chances.

"They had some as well, they could have scored as well, but they didn't. We were lucky when we scored the first goal. That fact gave us confidence and in the second part I think we could even scored more."

The result meant Barcelona entered the winter break having won 16 of a possible 17 league encounters this season, with the other result a 2-2 draw against Real Madrid.

And Roura was delighted the club's terrific momentum continued right up until their last match of 2012.

"As I said before it can't be more grateful for our record this season," he said.

"We've played 17 games and we've won 16 of them. We have just drawn one. I think this is a really positive thing. We have ended the year very well so we can take the winter break with a good feeling. I think we can be very happy."

Messi's strike against Real Valladolid meant he finished the calendar year with an incredible 91 goals, 79 of which came for Barcelona.

Of those 79, 59 were scored in La Liga and 13 in the UEFA Champions League. He also scored five in the Copa del Rey and two in the Spanish Super Cup. His other 12 goals were scored for Argentina.

Barca hegemony worries Cruyff

Ex-Barcelona star Johan Cruyff has claimed the 16-point gap between his former club and Real Madrid is dangerous for Spanish football.

Barcelona have enjoyed a record-breaking start to the La Liga season under Tito Vilanova, winning 16 of their opening 17 games, while third-placed Real have been in poor form with the reigning champions having already lost four matches this campaign.

Cruyff believes the league suffers if 'the suspense is over' and the 65-year-old Dutchman is convinced the title is already decided even though there are 21 rounds still to be played after the mid-season break.



"It's too much, it's a terrible gap," Cruyff told Le Buteur. 

"The truth is that it's not good for La Liga.

"Perhaps Barcelona supporters are happy but a championship is valued by the tension and excitement it creates.

"Here (in Spain) the suspense is over."

Barcelona return to action with a local derby against Espanyol on January 5, while Real will host Real Sociedad the day after.

Atletico Madrid sit second in La Liga, nine points behind Barcelona and seven ahead of their city rivals, and their first game after the break will be away to Mallorca.

Nigeria omission hurts Nsofor

Nigerian striker Obinna Nsofor is disappointed to have missed out on selection for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Locomotiv Moscow forward Nsofor was an integral part of Nigeria's team under Samson Siasia's tenure but has been left on the outer by current coach Stephen Keshi.

"I must confess that I am disappointed that I am not going to South Africa with the team," Nsofor said.

"It would have been my wish to go to South Africa and see how we can win the trophy for the third time.

"I was part of the team that played the last game against Guinea before the last Cup of Nations and the memories of missing out right at the National Stadium in Abuja is still fresh on my mind.

"I scored the first goal in that game but we could not qualify for the tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon."

Nsofor added that he is eager to return to the national team and is confident his chance to play under Keshi for the first time will come.

"Yes, I am still waiting for my chance to play under the coach. And I know the opportunity will soon come for me," he said.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations starts January 19 in Johannesburg.

"It is going to be one step at a time. But I am confident that the present crop of players are capable of doing the nation proud in South Africa.

"There is this urge to show Africans that the fact that we did not qualify for the last edition is not a reason why any country should underrate Nigeria.

"Coach Stephen Keshi has done well and the team can go ahead to win the trophy in South Africa."

Michu gets spain call-up

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque plans to hand an international call-up to Swansea forward Michu.

The 26-year-old Michu has scored an impressive 13 goals in 18 league games since moving to the Liberty Stadium from Real Vallecano in July.


Del Bosque says the Premier League's top scorer, as well as Celtic Vigo striker Iago Aspas, who has been linked with a January move to Swansea, will make his next squad.

"Iago Aspas and Michu will appear," the World Cup-winning boss told Spanish television.

Both players will be given their first Spain call-ups in a friendly against Uruguay in Doha on February 6.

The confirmation comes after Del Bosque heaped praise on Swansea's prolific close-season signing for performing so highly at one of the Premier League's less-fancied clubs.

"Michu deserves to be credited for his superb season," Del Bosque said earlier in December.

"The way he has stood out in the league at a club like Swansea, which is not one of the top clubs, is exceptional.

"He's not an out-and-out striker and has been scoring a lot of goals like he did for Rayo Vallecano."

WHO WILL CLAIM THE TITLE.

GUARDIOLA BACKS ALBA TO SHINE.

Former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has endorsed the club's decision to sign Valencia left-back Jordi Alba.

Barca announced on Thursday they had reached an agreement worth 14 million euros for the defender, ending weeks of speculation about the 23-year-old's potential switch to Camp Nou.

Alba, who spent part of his youth career at the Barca academy, has impressed for Spain at Euro 2012, and Guardiola has no doubt the defender will be a quality asset to the club.

"Jordi Alba is a great signing," he told RCTI.

"I will enjoy seeing him at Barca next season because he is a very good player."

Guardiola reflected on his successful four-year reign at Barcelona and declined to single out a particular player when asked about the best footballer he coached.

"I had the privilege to coach an incredible team, with a philosophy in which everyone believed and with players who are very talented and wanted to do things better every day," he said.

"That was the secret behind all the successes we had.

"The best player? Everyone is very good. Xavi (Hernandez), Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta have a lot of talent, but also Carles Puyol, Victor Valdes, Thierry Henry or Samuel Eto'o.

"The merits belonged to the squad."

BALOTELLI CELEBRATES HIS GOAL.

Mario Balotelli as we all know is a very controversial player, throughout his last season's campaign with Man city he scored spectacular goals and spectacular attitudes followed them. one thing they all have in common is that 'Super Mario' doesn't celebrate goals.

We all were shocked at his marvelous performance in the match against Germany, scoring the two goals that led the way to the finals with Balotelli celebrating the first and another Mario display at the second. Are we going to see this changed Ballo in the EPL new season?

ITALY ALL THE WAY TO THE FINALS.

A brilliant two-goal performance from Mario Balotelli steered Italy into the Euro 2012 final on Thursday.
The Manchester City forward hit the headlines for all the right reasons, opening the scoring with a powerful header before smashing home an emphatic second to clinch a date with Spain at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday.
It was a deserved victory for Italy, who could have added further goals in the second half had they taken one of the numerous chances afforded to them by Germany's rushes forward to find a way back into the match.
Mesut Ozil ensured a nervy finish to the encounter with a penalty in second-half stoppage time, but there was to be no miracle for Germany, who bowed out at the semi-final stage for the second major tournament in a row.
It was Germany who threatened first only six minutes in, after Mats Hummels' scrambled shot was blocked on the line by Andrea Pirlo, allowing Gianluigi Buffon to smother.
Italy's skipper nearly forced an own goal moments later after inadvertently diverting a Jerome Boateng cross into Andrea Barzagli, but the deflection rolled just wide of the post.
Riccardo Montolivo blasted into the arms of Manuel Neuer from the edge of the box, but the Germany keeper was forced to work much harder by Antonio Cassano, whose curler towards the bottom corner was tipped away.
Italy started to ask questions of the suspect German defence. Then, with 20 minutes gone, they carved them apart.
Chiellini fed Cassano on the overlap down the left, and the Milan forward delivered a superb cross into the heart of the area, where Balotelli rose above Holger Badstuber to head Italy into the lead.
Italy were buoyed by the goal, with Germany still unable to shake off the erratic edge to their play. Montolivo's hesitation allowed Badstuber to strip him of possession deep inside the area, but the new Milan signing would make a far more decisive contribution with 36 minutes gone.
His searching ball over the top caught the German back line out completely and released Balotelli, who stormed towards goal and smashed an unstoppable finish high into the back of the net.
The Manchester City man was booked for ripping his shirt off in a passionate celebration, but there were no such signs of desire from Germany.
Germany's Phillip Lahm should have done a lot better after the restart, blasting over from wide out.
Marco Reus was next to try his luck with a powerful free-kick from 20 yards out, but Buffon was equal to it and managed to punch over the crossbar.
Then it was Italy's turn.
A sweeping break just past the hour mark saw Alessandro Diamanti slip in Claudio Marchisio behind Badstuber, but his finish was driven the wrong side of the post.
The Juventus midfielder spurned an even greater chance with a quarter of an hour to play, when Badstuber's slip allowed him with a clear sight on goal, but he disappointingly dragged his shot wide.
Substitute Antonio Di Natale wasted another chance on 82 minutes after being put one-on-one with Neuer, but with all the time in the world to pick his spot, he instead found the side netting.

Germany were handed a late lifeline after Balzaretti's handball was spotted in the box, giving Ozil the chance to bury from the spot.

Barcelona have announced on their official website that they have agreed a fee with Valencia for the signing of Jordi Alba.
The Blaugrana had long been linked with a move for the left-back, and are now one step closer to completing the deal after negotiating a 14 million euros fee.
"Barcelona announce that today an agreement with Valencia has been reached for the transfer of Jordi Alba, pending a medical examination. The player will undergo in Barcelona next week," an official statement reads.
medical next week, and sign a five-year deal upon successful completion of his physical examination. Jordi was a product of the la masia. its like Barca wants all their lads back.

THE WORLD BEST PLAYER 2012. With the exit of portugal from the Euro 2012 final contest. Do you think cristano Ronaldo has a chance of clinching the ballon d'or award? The last international competition Lionel Messi participated in was the last years Copa america and he was not exceptional. Ronaldo led portugal to the semi finals and scored 3 goals in the campaign will this be enough to counter Lionel Messi's brilliant season?

EURO 2012 SEMI FINALS Last night we saw Spain the defending champions battling it out with portugal. The decider being the Penalty Shoot out. Do you think Spain has the chance of doing it again with Germany or Italy as the title contenders.

HOT AND NEW.

In the world of soccer we have several idols, views, perceptions and opinion about the Game. SOCCER LOVERS4 REAL gives u d platform 2 share, debate and show the world what you think about the Game. I welcome you soccer lovers to SOCCER LOVERS 4 REAL.