Messi (101 page)

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Authors: Guillem Balague

BOOK: Messi
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Six titles out of six. The perfect year for Barcelona and Leo.

With Pep Guardiola, many of Leo’s habits changed. His physical preparation became more individually orientated. After two years of injury nightmares, he learned to listen to his body.

First Ballon d’Or, 2009. With his mum Celia, and his dad Jorge. The road there was arduous.

When Messi was 13, his mum had to leave Barcelona to look after the other half of the family who could not adapt to life in Barcelona. She is the centre of his world. Here he celebrates her birthday after yet another goal.

Messi cried the day Barcelona lost against Sevilla in the Cup . . . after having won every single title in the first year and a half with Pep. Every defeat is a little death.

After Ronaldinho left, the Catalans looked after Leo. They knew he was going to make them better, to help them win.

Man of the match, goalscorer of the 2-1 . . . at Wembley Leo Messi helped Barcelona win another Champions League.

His third Champions League win, but he only celebrated two.

In 2011, at Wembley, the world recognised he was not just something special. He was probably the best ever. Sir Alex Ferguson went out of his way to shake his hand.

Winning is the thing to do, but scoring against and beating Real Madrid makes the job special.

Pep had to understand how to talk to Leo. At first, fluent communication was not easy.

Always a pleasure to sign the Argentinian shirt, even though for years his compatriots did not believe in him.

The 2011 Club World Cup against Santos was the consecration of the Barcelona style.

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