Full name	Futbol Club Barcelona
Nickname(s)	L'equip blaugrana (team) Culers or Culés (supporters) Blaugranes (supporters).
Founded	29 November, 1899 (as Foot-Ball Club Barcelona)
Ground	Camp Nou, Barcelona (Capacity: 98,772)
Honorary President	Johan Cruyff
President	Joan Laporta
Head Coach	Josep Guardiola
League	La Liga
2008–09	La Liga, 1st
Home colours Away colours Third colours
Current season

During the 2007–08 season, Messi scored five goals in a week leading Barcelona to the top four in La Liga. On 19 September he scored once as Barcelona defeated Lyon 3–0 at home in a Champions League match.^[44] He scored two goals against Sevilla on 22 September^[45] and then on 26 September, Messi scored another two goals in a 4–1 victory over Real Zaragoza.^[46] On 27 February, Messi played in his 100th official match for Barça against Valencia.^[47]

He was nominated for a FIFPro World XI Player Award under the category of Forward.^[48] A poll conducted in the online edition of the Spanish newspaper Marca had him as the best player in the world with 77 percent of the vote.^[49] Columnists from Barcelona-based newspapers El Mundo Deportivo and Sport stated that the Ballon d'Or should be given to Messi, a view supported by Franz Beckenbauer.^[50] Football personalities such as Francesco Totti have declared that they consider Messi to be one of the current best footballers in the world.^[51]

Messi was sidelined for six weeks following an injury on 4 March when he suffered a muscle tear in his left thigh during a Champions League match against Celtic. It was the fourth time in three seasons that Messi suffered this type of injury.

MESSI

• Full name: Lionel Andres Messi
• Date of Birth: 24 June 1987
• Birth place: Rosario (Argentina)
• Height: 5'6 and a half" (1.69 metres)
• Club: FC Barcelona
• National team: Argentina
• Shirt number: 19
• Position: Attacking midfielder (right/centre)
• Previous club(s): Newell's Old Boys (Argentina)
• Nickname/other names: Leo, La Pulga (The Flea), La Messiah