Lionel Messi targets Ballon d’Or hat-trick

Lionel Messi the two time Ballon d’Or winner is simply defining the modern era of football. Messi has already accomplished more at the age of 25 than most players accomplish in their lifetime. Messi is the face of football and his success with his club Barcelona has been historic. The question is has Messi reached his peak or is there more to come?

Messi’s only real competition for the Ballon d’Or is Real Madird’s Cristiano Ronaldo who won the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2008 and has not stopped scoring goals. Ronaldo would have won the Ballon d’Or for several seasons after if it was not for Lionel Messi.

Messi’s remarkable CV includes two Ballon d’Or awards, one FIFA World Player of the Year award, two European Golden Shoe awards, three La Liga Player of the Year awards, four UEFA Champions League Top Goal Scorer awards and many more! However these awards are just at individual level. The feats he has done for FC Barcelona are extraordinary. The major titles with his club include five La Liga titles, three UEFA Champions League titles, two Copa del Rey titles and two UEFA Super Cup titles.

Messi joined Barcelona in 2000 playing for the junior infantil and Cadete B and A teams. In the 2003-2004 season Messi played for five different teams making his official debut in November 2003 for the first team aged only 16 years. Messi has now netted over 270 goals in La Liga for Barcelona at only 25 years of age. A player with sublime touch and control, frightful dribbling, a lower centre of gravity and a deadly finish pending similarities to the great Diego Maradona.

The question is can Messi continue his form, can he continue his world class style of play? Can Messi become one of the greatest of all time?