Lionel Messi walked up the steps at the Maracana. It was at the end of 120 minutes of Sunday's gripping World Cup final and the Argentine was collecting a revered golden trophy, one befitting his status as the greatest player of his generation.
Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova defended the decision to field Lionel Messi over the weekend after the Argentine was forced to sit out Wednesday's 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League semifinal.
There were no surprises and no miracle fightback in FC Barcelona's Camp Nou Stadium this Wednesday night as Bayern Munich won 3-0 on the night to qualify 7-0 on aggregate for the final of the Champions League。
Bayern Munich all but assured their place in the final of the Champions League with a crushing 4- 0 win over FC Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal on Tuesday night.
A clearly ailing Lionel Messi came off the bench to galvanise Barcelona and help salvage a 1-1 draw with Paris St Germain on Wednesday which put the favourites through to the Champions League semifinals for a sixth straight season.
Lionel Messi has gone from being the first name on Barcelona's team sheet to the last, as it awaits a late fitness test ahead of Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal second leg at home to Paris St. Germain.
Barcelona stayed on track for a sixth consecutive Champions League semi-final appearance despite conceding a last-gasp goal by Blaise Matuidi in a pulsating 2-2 first-leg draw at Paris St Germain on Tuesday.
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi injured his hamstring and defender Javier Mascherano sustained a more serious knee problem in Tuesday's 2-2 Champions League quarter-final first leg draw at Paris St Germain.
Barcelona assistant coach Jordi Roura hit out at the state of the pitch after his side was left staring at an early Champions League exit following a shock 2-0 loss to AC Milan on Wednesday.
World Player of the Year Lionel Messi has signed a new contract with Barcelona which ties him until June 30 2018, the Spanish league leaders said on Thursday.
Argentina's Lionel Messi, still only 25, was named the world's best player for an unprecedented fourth year running on Monday. 
Factbox on four-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi
The world's top sports news stories in 2012 selected by Xinhua News Agency.
Spain's glorious third successive triumph in a major tournament and individual goalscoring brilliance from Argentine Lionel Messi will be remembered as soccer's golden hallmarks of 2012.
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