We all know that Lionel Messi is a great player. Even if you've never watched a game of soccer in your life, you've undoubtedly heard dude's name and, thanks to all the individual accolades he's received in recent years, you automatically associate it with greatness. And he helped keep that sentiment alive on Monday night when he won the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or—soccer's Player of the Year award—for the third consecutive year. But during an interview with Ole after winning the award, Messi acknowledged that in order to be considered one of the truly great players in soccer history, he needs to help lead Argentina to the 2014 World Cup. At the same time, he also revealed that his native country still has a long way to go if they want to do that.
"Winning a World Cup is the only dream that I still have to turn into reality," he said. "It would be spectacular. But we have to keep working because we still have far to go."
Imagine Michael Jordan without an NBA title, Tom Brady without a Super Bowl ring, or Derek Jeter without a World Series championship. That is where Messi is at in his career right now. He's an incredible individual player. And, to be fair, his Barcelona club has won the Primera Division, Supercopa, Champions League, European Super Cup, and Club World Cup, so he's shown that he has what it takes to lead a team to a 'chip, too. But without that elusive World Cup, he's not ever going to be considered as great as he could be. And he recognizes that. So, look out, world. Messi is officially a man on a mission.
[via Goal]
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