Part 1


Part 2


Part 3

    “I believe that this has been one of my best games, since i joined FC Barcelona. I’m enjoying it a lot, because I am playing at the best club in the world. If you do not enjoy it here, the best you can do is to leave football and change jobs.”

Eric Abidal, FC Barcelona defender

Catalan sportspaper El Mundo Deportivo claims that, following the successful renewals of eight members of the squad, FC Barcelona would now open talks and start the reviewing the contracts of Barcelona goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto (34), and central defender Gerard  Piqué (22).

Pinto, who signed on loan from Celta Vigo in January 2008 as cover for the  injured Albert Jorquera and whose contract expires on June 30, 2010, would have been reassured by recent statements of Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola. Before last weekends game against Sevilla, Guardiola reportedly said that 99% of the work force will continue next year.

Pinto’s agent, John Maraver, and Barcelona technical director, Txiki Begiristain, are said to have already met this month to discuss the player’s contract, and reportedly would have essentially and in principle agreed on a one year extension, despite certain quarters calling for the promotion of Barça Atlètic‘ s young goalkeepers. Pinto, who is said to be popular with his team mates, has impressed the coaching staff  with his professionalism, commitment, and his willingness to play a secondary role to Barcelona’s number one keeper, Victor Valdes.

Meantime, sources said that the Catalan club intends to offer its prized young central defender, Gerard Piqué , a much improved contract extended until 2015 and a salary to match the club’s other stars. His buyout clause would  reportedly increased to at least 150 million, a stark contrast to the current 50 million.

Leo Messi is having a great season in front of goal. Apart from being top scorer in the Spanish league, along David Villa (14 goals), he is among the leading scorers in Europe.

After a fabulous 2009, possibly the only individual award that Messi still lacks is the Golden Boot for Europe’s top goal scorer. In the Spanish league he’s scored 14 goals in 18 matches, making him the top scorer along with David Villa. He currently stands in 3rd place in the Golden Boot ranking.

Rooney, first

The two players who are ahead of Messi in the race for the Golden Boot have both played more matches than him. In first place is Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) with 15 goals in 22 matches. Next comes Kris Boyd (Glasgow Rangers) with 19 goals in 20 matches. However, the coefficient of the Scottish league is lower than that of the Spanish league so Boyd only leads Messi by half a point.

It is important to remember that there are two players, Welliton (Spartak Moscow) and Kristaps Grebis (Liepajas Metalurg), have better figures. However, both the Russian and Lithuanian Leagues have now finished meaning that neither player will be able to improve their current rating (31.5 and 30 respectively).

Breaking all records

Messi, who won the Golden Ball and the FIFA World Player in 2009, wrote a new page in the history of FC Barcelona on Saturday when he became the youngest ever player to score his 100th competitive Barça goal. Now he has a fresh challenge – to become the second Barça player to win the Golden Boot. The only Barça player to have won the award was Ronaldo, thanks to his 34 goals in the 1996/97 season.

This is the current top 10 list, as this things stand.

PLAYER – POINTS
1. Welliton (Spartak) – 31,5
2. Rooney (Man. Utd) – 30
3. Grebis (Liepajas) – 30
4. Boyd (Rangers) – 28,5
5. Messi (FCB) – 28
6. Villa (Valencia) – 28
7. Defoe (Tottenham) – 28
8. Bent (Sunderland) – 28
9. Drogba (Chelsea) – 28
10. L.Suárez (Ajax) – 27

As many of you may or may not know, Henry had a hearing today before the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, in relation to the infamous l’affaire du Main incident that resulted in France qualifying for the World Cup over Ireland. Some were calling for the bastinado, others for his exclusion, etc, etc.

Here’s what happened:

“The Disciplinary Committee reached the conclusion that there was no legal foundation for the committee to consider the case because handling the ball cannot be regarded as a serious infringement as stipulated in article 77a of the FIFA Disciplinary Code,” world football’s ruling body said.

“There is no other legal text that would allow the committee to impose sanctions for any incidents missed by match officials.”

Former Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was named Italian players' association player of the year on Monday despite now being with Barcelona.

The awards, known as the Italian soccer 'Oscars', were voted on by Italy-based players during the close-season and reflect performances during the 2008/09 campaign.

This allowed Sweden's Ibrahimovic, Serie A top scorer last term with 25 goals, to win the best player and best foreign player awards having joined Barcelona in July.

"I miss Italy. I learnt so much in five years and won lots. But now I am enjoying Spain and I love it at Barcelona," Ibrahimovic was quoted as saying by ANSA news agency while in Milan to pick up his award at a ceremony.

His former coach Jose Mourinho, who has often clashed with rival managers and journalists but is respected by players throughout the game, won the best coach award after leading Inter to last season's Serie A title in his first campaign in charge.

Inter were also elected team of the year.

The best Italian player award went to AS Roma and Italy's tough-tackling midfielder Daniele De Rossi while Inter's Julio Cesar was voted Serie A's top goalkeeper. Best young player was AC Milan's Brazilian Alexandre Pato and the defender award went to Juventus centre back Giorgio Chiellini.

Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is known not only for his talent as a football player but also for his passion for tattoos. He has eleven of them drawn all over his physique, mostly relating to his family and beliefs and as good luck charms.

1- The most striking design, a red dragon on his back, is said to be a metaphor for his personality.


2- The symbols on his wrists known as the "Ibrahimovic Code" are actually the birth dates of his parents and three siblings.


3- When his son Maximilian was born he had his name written on his right arm.


4- His second son Vincent's name was later added to Maximilian's.


His sons' birthdays were also added to the "Ibrahimovic Code" on his wrist.


5- The family name Ibrahimovic is written in Arabic on the back of his right arm.


6- The tribal drawing supposedly symbolizes the family's good fortune.


7- His mother's name Jurka is tattooed on his left arm.


8- His father Šefik's name is on his right arm. His parents' names and the Ibrahimovic Code were his earliest tattoos.


9- The words "Only God Can Judge Me" on his belly supposedly show both his religious and rebellious nature.


10- He supposedly got this unique white ink tattoo for a commercial but later decided to keep it.


11- His latest tattoo is a drawing of two poker cards, the aces of hearts and clover placed near the dragon symbol as a good luck charm.