Messi leads Ballon d'Or nominations
NEW YORK. October 30. KAZINFORM Barcelona striker Lionel Messi says he wants to stay at the club until he retires on the day it was announced he again leads the nominations for the prestigious Ballon d'Or.
The award anoints the world's best footballer and the Argentinean has won it the last three years in a row.
Messi picked up another award on Monday -- the Golden Boot -- after his 50 goals in the Spanish league for Barca saw him crowned the highest scorer in European club soccer for the 2011/12 season.
And with 73 goals to his name in 2012 already, Messi is the strong favorite to beat the likes of Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba as well as teammates Andres Iniesta and Xavi to take the top prize, CNN reports.
After collecting the Golden Boot Messi told Barca's official website: "I'm very thankful to Barca because they gave me a chance to realize my dream.
"My dream is to be a Barca player when I retire. The most important thing is that I continue to grow at Barca and I'd like to continue growing until the end.
"This is a group prize" he added. "I always say that when an individual wins something like this. That's a fact, and this one more than any. It is a prize for scoring goals, but I'd never have done it without my teammates."
Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney is the sole English representative on the list, which also includes Spain's World Cup winning captain Iker Casillas.
Atletico Madrid's Colombian striker Falcao is also included, as is PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Manchester City's Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure.
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