Messi hopes Ballon d'Or leads to more honours

Lionel Messi expressed his hope yesterday that his winning of the coveted Ballon d'Or title would be the first of many more honours in his career.

After an exceptional year with Barcelona, winning the Champions League, La Liga and Spanish Cup titles, Messi received the biggest percentage of votes since the award for the European player of the year was created in 1956.

"I hope to win another after winning something with Argentina," said the 22-year-old winger.

"It would be great, but it's going to depend on the way things evolve with Barca and the World Cup."

And he agreed that the fact that there were six players from La Liga and four from Barcelona in the top ten proved that the Spanish first division was the best in the world.

"Yes I think so," he said.

"With the English league, they are the two strongest in the world. It's not by chance that they are the clubs and the championships that always go far in the Champions League."

Messi hoped that his success would be savoured by all Argentina.

"I'm very proud to be the first Argentine to win the the Ballon d'Or," he said.

"I would love to relive a year like the one that has just finished and win titles with Argentina."

And he admitted his pride at being compared to Diego Maradona.

"For me he was the best player in history. There won't be others like him. So it's an honour to be compared to him," Messi said.