Barça wins “the Oscars of sports”. FC Barcelona beat out the Dallas Mavericks, the Red Bull Formula 1 team, the All Blacks, the English national cricket side and the Japanese women’s national football side to win the Laureus World Team of the Year award. Messi and Abidal were also nominated. This award, which gives FC Barcelona worldwide recognition, will be added to FC Barcelona’s athletic and social achievements.
Barça overcame freezing temperatures and an injury to Busquets to beat Real Sociedad 2-1 at the Camp Nou. Tello and Messi scored for the FC Barcelona. The Catalans continue their race to overtake Real Madrid topping the Spanish League.
With the win in Málaga, Barça finished the first half of the Spanish League season in second spot, with an exceptional home record and Leo Messi equalling César’s goalscoring record. However, the away record is not as good as recent seasons.
A sensational display from Barça at La Rosaleda against a threatening Málaga side. A stunning hat-trick from Messi, and another goal from Alexis, reflected the FC Barcelona superiority. Víctor Valdes made a vital triple save in the 15th minute.
Gerard Piqué offered his views on the FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid Spanish Cup game. The Barça centre back has never lost to Madrid, and was delighted with yet another victory at the Bernabéu. When asked about Pepe treading on Messi’s hand, he said that others are to judge, not FC Barcelona players.
Barça beat Betis 4-2 at the Camp Nou after the Seville team had fought back from 2-0 down in the second half. Xavi, Messi (2) and Alexis were on target for FC Barcelona. Betis’ two goals were the first Barça have conceded at home in this season’s Spanish League.
The Argentinean star is named by FIFA as the best player of 2011. This is Messi’s third straight Ballon d’Or Award. Messi equals Platini, Cruyff and Van Basten, the only players to ever win three Ballon d’Or titles. The Barça boss, who won 5 titles with FC Barcelona in 12 months, beat last year's winner, José Mourinho, and Sir Alex Ferguson. Guardiola dedicated the title to his assistant coach, Tito Vilanova. Besides, 5 Barça players are in the FIFA's Best Eleven of the Year: Alves, Piqué, Xavi, Iniesta, and Messi. Two of them are Catalan and four are home grown players.
Barça clearly defeated Osasuna in the first game of the new year, thanks to 2 goals each from Cesc and Messi. FC Barcelona are well on their way to going through to the quarter-finals of the Spanish Cup.
The International Federation of Football History & Statistics has named the FC Barcelona midfielder the best playmaker in the world for the fourth year in a row. Leo Messi and Andrés Iniesta are second and third behind Xavi.
La Masia, FC Barcelona’s football school, dominated Club World Cup. Barça won the final against Santos with 9 home grown players in starting line up. Three home grown players also the scorers: Messi, Xavi and Cesc Fàbregas.
Santos FC vs FC Barcelona: Barça becomes legendary after winning the FIFA Club World Cup. The Catalans were three up at half time after goals from Messi, Xavi and Cesc, with the Argentinean rounding the game off with a fourth after the break.
Marvellous Barça performance against Real Madrid who went ahead within a minute but were overwhelmed by a superior FC Barcelona with goals from Alexis, Messi and Cesc. Barça switched to a three man defence after 15 minutes and are now back on top of the Spanish League, though Real Madrid do have a game in hand.
For the fifth year on the run there will be a Barça player on the podium for the FIFA Ballon d’Or, as Messi and Xavi are again amongst the top three candidates. Cristiano Ronaldo, from the Real Madrid, is the third finalist.
FC Barcelona vs Levante was an exquisite Barça performance and ended with hitting five past the visitors, through Cesc (2), Cuenca, Messi and Alexis. The game was virtually done and dusted within 36 minutes and Barça will go to the Santiago Bernabeu full of confidence to play against Real Madrid.
Barça stormed to victory against Rayo Vallecano with goals from Alexis (2), Villa and Messi, and have now scored 34 goals to no reply in home fixtures. This victory shows that FC Barcelona’s Spanish League campaign is very much alive.