Messi wants to end year on winning note

Abu Dhabi: Lionel Messi wants to sign off the year with a victory Saturday in the Fifa Club World Cup final against Estudiantes de la Plata and help Barcelona create history with a sixth trophy for the year.

The Ballon D'Or award winner and the front-runner to be named Fifa World Player of the Year on Monday, Messi enthralled the packed Zayed Sports City stadium on Wednesday by scoring off his very first move after coming on as a substitute.

The 22-year-old Argentine star later spoke to Gulf News and said he was keen to help his club create history. In reply to a question on how he was looking towards the final, Messi said, "It is a very important game for us. It is the last game of the year for us. It is very, very important game for us to make history."

Barcelona, who tamed the reigning Uefa and Club World Cup champions Manchester United to win the Uefa Cup and book their spot in this edition of the Club World Cup, also won the Spanish League, the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup and the Uefa Super Cup, all this year.

In reply to another question from Gulf News on his experience here in Abu Dhabi and the atmosphere at the stadium, Messi said, "Everything over here is very nice. The stadium is very good and so is the atmosphere.

"I have been treated very well here. I am very happy to be here," said Messi, whose every move with the ball was cheered by the 40,000-strong crowd during Wednesday's semifinals. Messi, whose appearance in the match was in doubt after an ankle injury he sustained in a Champions League match against Dynamo Kiev, drew praise from his coach after sparking off Barcelona's win.

Competitive gene

Josep Guardiola said: "We'd spoken about the risk of the injury flaring up again and we decided he should start on the bench and, depending on how the match went, use him or not.

"And the match needed him. To be able to call on the best always helps. He's got a competitive gene in his blood. He wants to be the best, to decide matches," Guardiola said.

Messi, who has been short listed for the Fifa World Player of the Year twice earlier, is hoping that it may prove third time lucky. Messi's club-mates Andres Iniesta and Xavi along with last year's winner Cristian Ronaldo and 2007 winner Kaka are in the running for the award which will be declared on December 21.

Messi's winning role was also highlighted by rival coach Jose Cruz of Atlante, who said, "We would have had a better chance if Messi had stayed on the bench. He changed the whole dimension of the game immediately. He's just a brilliant player who had excellent players around him."