Thursday, August 16, 2012

Messi, Ronaldo set to renew scoring duel

In the Spanish league alone, Messi scored a
record 50 times last season, while Ronaldo
almost kept pace with 46 goals, six more than the
previous league record that the Portuguese
forward established the year before. (AP Photo)
BARCELONA: It will be tough for Barcelona's
Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo
to take their unprecedented scoring duel to even
greater heights after last season's record-breaking
performances.
But that doesn't mean they won't try.
In the Spanish league alone, Messi scored a
record 50 times last season, while Ronaldo
almost kept pace with 46 goals, six more than the
previous league record that the Portuguese
forward established the year before.
"I begin each season with the objective of
surpassing what I have done before," said Messi.
"I don't try to score more goals, I try to improve
as a player. I hope I still have margin to continue
growing and become a better footballer."
Messi shattered a string of records in 2011-12.
The 25-year-old Argentina forward scored 73
goals overall in 60 games for Barcelona, breaking
the mark of 67 set by Bayern Munich's Gerd
Mueller in 1973 and the prior world club mark of
70 established by Archie Stark of Bethlehem Steel
in the American Soccer League in 1925. He
became Barcelona's all-time leading scorer by
breaking a 57-year-old club milestone, and
equaled a Champions League record with 14
goals.
Ronaldo came close to matching Messi with 60
goals in 55 games in all competitions as he
powered Madrid to the Spanish league title and
its record point haul (100) and goals scored
(121).
"My immediate goals are to work as hard as I can
so I can fight with my team for all the titles
possible," said Ronaldo. "I want to keep getting
better because it is going to be a long season."
On Tuesday, the two rivals and Messi's teammate
Andres Iniesta were named as finalists for the
UEFA Best Player in Europe award.
Messi has won the award the past three years.
Ronaldo won it in 2008.
For Ronaldo's coach Jose Mourinho, his fellow
countryman should win this time.
"My idea is clear, football is a collective sport,"
Mourinho said. "Real Madrid won a very
important title and won it in spectacular fashion.
Those that make the difference on a great
champion team are the (best) candidates."
Messi refused to say if he felt he deserved the
award more than Ronaldo. Instead, he said he
would like to see it go to a Barcelona player.
"I would like to see the award remain for one
more year at Barcelona," he said.
The two scoring aces will soon meet in the
Spanish Supercup, to be played between Madrid
and Barcelona over two legs on Aug. 23 and 29,
one day before the winner of the award is
announced.
And if the battle for individual honors wasn't
enough added motivation, both players ended
last season with team and individual
disappointments despite their superb scoring
campaigns.
While Barcelona won the Copa del Rey, Club
World Cup and both the Spanish and European
Super Cups, it was dethroned by Madrid in the
Spanish league and lost to Chelsea in the
Champions League semifinals. Messi missed a
penalty in the second leg at home against the
eventual champion that would have sent the
Catalan club through.
Ronaldo, for his part, had a penalty saved in a
loss to Bayern Munich in the other Champions
League semifinal.
Messi said his goal is for Barcelona to return to
the top of both Spain and Europe.
"I hope so. We're upset with how we ended last
season with the loss to Chelsea and the loss to
Real Madrid in Camp Nou," he said. "Last season
is history. We begin from zero."
Without any international commitments this
summer for Argentina, Messi has enjoyed both a
longer than usual vacation and has been able to
get in a full preseason under Barcelona's new
head coach Tito Vilanova.
"Leo has come back strong," Barcelona's Javier
Mascherano said about his fellow Argentina
teammate. "This season you will see him start in
even better shape."
The Spanish league begins for both teams on Aug.
19 with Real Madrid hosting Valencia and
Barcelona hosting Real Sociedad.

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