Messi: Balon D'Or is good, but nothing beats team success

FC Barcelona striker, Leo Messi said Friday that he hoped to add further Balon D'Or trophies to the four he has won in the past four years. Last Monday saw Messi handed the award, which is given by France Football and FIFA to the best player in the world. It was the fourth successive time he has won the Balon D'Or, something nobody has ever done, but aged just 25 there is still plenty of time for the Argentinean to add more to his trophy cabinet. "I hope to win more, but it is not an obsession, at least not at the moment," said Messi in an interview with France Football. "I want to enjoy the present and we will see what happens in a few months," added the striker, who scored a record 91 goals during 2012. Messi admitted it was nice to win individual awards, but insisted that in football it was not the most important thing. "I have said several times that there is nothing like winning a collective title. Individual titles don't give you the same adrenaline. I am happy, but there is nothing like winning a final, lifting a trophy and competing with all of the team. There is nothing better than that as it is the best thing you can do as a player," said Messi. Messi has one moment that he cherishes above all: his headed goal against Manchester United in the 2009 Champions League final. "When I close my eyes, the first thing that comes to mind is the night we won in Rome, my headed goal and the collective joy at the final whistle. Everything else is good, the record and all that, that is what I dream about," said Messi, who added that his first Balon D'Or was the one he most cherished. Finally Messi apologized for not having mentioned his team- mates, Barca coach, Tito Vilanova or Cristiano Ronaldo, who was runner up to Messi for the Balon D'Or in his acceptance speech. "I am sorry about that. I didn't say all that I wanted to. I hadn't prepared any notes or a speech, but I didn't mean to forget anyone, but the same thing happens everything, I get emotional and lose the thread," he said.Source : XINHUA