'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#1 Messi's quest for redemption
Lionel Messi is an extraordinary footballer, we all know that. The 31-year-old Argentine has scored over 600 career goals and has won 32 trophies in his career. He is one of the greatest players in history.
Trending
La Pulga Atomica (the atomic flea) has also set a plethora of records, too many to list here. He has won numerous personal awards, including a joint-record 5 Ballon d'Ors with his rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, like his club Barcelona, Messi has underperformed in Europe in recent seasons, watching as Cristiano Ronaldo lifted his club to Champions League victory time and again, and draw level with him in number of Ballon d'Ors won.
Messi had a then-seemingly unassailable 4-1 Ballon d'or lead over Cristiano in 2012, but the Portuguese' determination has seen him close the gap on Messi, equal it and on evidence of his performance last season, likely surpass him.
Messi hasn't won the Ballon d'or since 2015, and woefully failed to inspire his nation Argentina in its quest to end a 25-year wait for a major trophy at the World Cup in Russia.
Messi is a wounded lion right now, seeking to claim back his lost pride, and like a determined man on a mission, there could be almost no stopping him, which will ultimately favor Barcelona.
