Football: Messi honoured with award

LONDON: Barcelona’s Lionel Messi was named Argentina’s sports personality of the year, winning the Olimpia de Oro for the first time. The prize, his first in his home country, is awarded by Argentina’s sports writers and follows a year in which his goals helped Barcelona win Spain’s La Liga, the European Champions League and the Club World Cup. “I’m happy and proud of the award,” said Messi. “I’ve received prizes all over the world but I’d never before had one in Argentina.” Messi is also in line to win a third consecutive Ballon d’Or, the prize for the world’s best footballer.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2011.