Argentine prodigy speaks on post-Espanyol media frenzy shaking up the football world about the role he played at the weekend la Liga game.



Barcelona's latest sensation, Lionel Messi has sought to further clarify issues surrounding him after the gifted forward generated much controversy by virtue of his on-the-field acts during the dramatic Barcelona-Espanyol cracker.


The youthful forward is well aware that many have compared the controversial incident which generated the first goal to a past incident involving his idol, Diego Maradona's at the Mexico '86 World Cup in the match against England. Some of the points of speculation are that Lionel intentionally sets out to do the things Maradona did during his active days on the pitch.

Messi disputes this fact, saying:

I don't set my mind on trying to repeat what Maradona has done before. Football is an instinctive game and these things happen. Soccer actions are not pre-planned but are produced right there on the field of play.
There is no use comparing me to Maradona. He is simply a unique player.

On the events that unfolded during the last minutes of the match, Messi says:

Recently, we have not been lucky at the last minutes of our games. We always play well but seem to tire out in the last minutes of the encounter. This could be the cause.

On Barca's chances of retaining the La Liga, the Argentine rave is optimistic:

There is still a game left and Mallorca can get a draw against Madrid or even beat them. Anything is possible. We on our part have to stay hopeful and work hard.