This was published 12 years ago
Can Messi finally make his mark?
Individually, the Argentine maestro has won four Ballon D'ors, the only footballer to ever do so. He has also won three Golden Shoe awards as the top goal scorer in a top-flight European league.
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Messi will be under huge pressure to emulate Deigo Maradona and lead Argentina to a World Cup.
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Messi led Argentina to the under-20 World Cup in 2005 before making his full international debut later that year as 18-year-old.
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Despite being Argentina's second top-scorer with with 37 goals in 83 matches, Messi has never led Argentina's second top scorer ever with 37 goals in 83 matches.
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He became the youngest player to ever represent Argentina in a World Cup in 2006, managing to score in a 6-0 group win over Serbia & Montenegro. He was an unused substitute as Argentina lost to Germany on penalties in the quarter-finals.
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In the 2007 Copa America, Argentina swept all before them to reach the final where they were hammered 3-0 by rivals Brazil.
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Messi performed strongly but did not find the net under Deigo Maradona in 2010 as Argentina were humiliated 4-0 by Germany in the World Cup quarter-finals.
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Messi failed to score in the 2011 Copa America as Argentina once again fell at teh quarter final stage fail to eventual winners Uruguay on penalties in the quarter-final stage.
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Compare that to the trophies he has won with his club side, Barcelona. He has won three Champions Leagues, six La Ligas, two Copa del Ray crowns, five Spanish Supercups, two UEFA Super Cups and two Club World Cups. He has scored 243 goals in 276 appearances for the Catalan giants.
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Interestingly, Messi won an Olympic gold medal at the Beijing Games in 2008.
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