I'm not king of the world, modest Messi says

Madrid: World Player of the Year candidate Lionel Messi does not feel like the planet's number one soccer player and has put his phenomenal personal success over the past year down to playing in a great team.

The Barcelona and Argentina forward was the favourite to win the World Player award, which was to be presented last night, after helping Barca to six titles in 2009 — the Spanish league and King's Cup, the European Champions League, the Spanish and European Super Cups and the Club World Cup.

"No, please, I am not king of the world now, nor the number one, I don't believe in those things," Messi said in an interview with Spain's el Periodico newspaper yesterday. "I am the same person as always and I have the good fortune to play in a great team," the 22-year-old added.

"I don't feel like the best, the best is Barca."

Messi already has the 2009 Ballon d'Or award, finishing ahead of last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo by a record 240-point margin in the vote by journalists across the world organised by France Football magazine.

"I only think of the group and that nobody has ever been able to win what we have, and that is what gives me more pleasure," Messi told el Periodico.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has ruled out any move for Manchester City striker Robinho during the January transfer window.

Laporta said the Premier League club rejected the European champion's offer for the Brazil international when representatives of the two sides met in Abu Dhabi.

He added that Barcelona is "very satisfied" with the team they have and that unless a last-minute move is necessary, it will not sign any players during the winter break.

Laporta says the club is working on signing defender Gerard Pique to a contract extension and hopeful that coach Pep Guardiola will also renew his contract, which ends this season.