Messi says didn't want Maradona to go

Lionel Messi scored his third and fourth Champions League goals of the season with a brace as Spanish champions Barcelona defeated FC Copenhagen 2-0 at Camp Nou on Wednesday to leapfrog the Danes into top spot in Champions League Group D.Argentine Messi scored a fine long range opener on 19 minutes and a stoppage time tap-in as Barcelona inflicted a first group defeat on surprise package Copenhagen and Barca go top a point above the Danish side who had won their first two group games.

In a sporting year like no other Barcelona forward Lionel Messi did more than most to try and take the focus away from the London 2012 Olympics and keep it on football with a calendar year in which he broke Gerd Muller's record for the biggest haul of goals in a calendar year.

Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Argentina on Tuesday was awarded the Ballon d'Or accolade as Europe-based footballer of the year.Messi, whom Cristiano Ronaldo beat into second place last season, easily saw off the Portuguese striker, who moved to Real Madrid from Manchester United, by 473 points to 233.Messi got the vote for a tremendous year in which his mercurial talents stood out for Barcelona as the Catalan club marched to an unprecedented treble of Champions League - he scored against United in the final - Spanish league title and Spanish Cup.

Lionel Messi struck twice to take his league goals tally to 21 as champions Barcelona beat Hercules 3-0 to move seven points clear of Real Madrid on Saturday.Spanish international Pedro Rodriguez scored his 12th league goal of the season to open the scoring on 43 minutes before Ballon d'Or winner Messi struck twice in the 87th and 89th minutes as Barcelona made it 15 consecutive league wins.

Argentine sensation Lionel Messi made it four goals in four days scoring a brace as Barcelona won 2-0 at 10-man Real Zaragoza on Saturday to replace arch rivals Real Madrid at the top of the Spanish first division.Messi, 23, followed up his brace in Wednesday's 2-0 Champions League win over FC Copenhagen with a goal in each half to take his league tally to five and push champions Barcelona two points above Real Madrid.Real can go back to the summit with victory at home against Racing Santander later on Saturday.

Lionel Messi said the current Barcelona team could write more chapters in the club's history following their 2-0 win over Real Madrid in Saturday's 'El Clasico' at the Santiago Bernabeu.Barca became the first Spanish side to win a La Liga, Kings Cup and Champions League treble last season and are on for the double this time round having safely made the semi-finals of the Champions League while Saturday's victory over Real puts them in the box seat in the league.

Diego Maradona has accused Argentina football chief Julio Grondona of lying and team manager Carlos Bilardo of treason in a bitter tirade against the two men he believes plotted his sacking as national coach."Grondona lied to me. Bilardo betrayed me," said an emotional Maradona in his first news conference since his colourful and controversial reign as Argentina coach came to an abrupt end on Tuesday.

Lionel Messi struck a hat-trick as Barcelona made history on Saturday by winning a 16th successive Spanish League match to beat the previous mark of 15 in a row set by the great 1960-1961 Real Madrid team of Alfredo Di Stefano.Messi scored all the goals in the 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou as the defending champions opened up a 10-point lead over Real Madrid who face Real Sociedad on Sunday.Atletico came to the Camp Nou on the back of two defeats and they never looked confident about the task ahead and set their stall out to defend deeply.