The only player to have won the Ballon d'Or four times says he would happily trade his personal awards for the one trophy he has yet to win - the World Cup.
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Lionel Messi's incredible 2012, which saw him surpass Gerd Muller's long-standing record of 85 goals in a calendar year, culminated in his fourth consecutive Ballon d'Or on Monday night.
However, with just over two years until the next World Cup in neighbouring Brazil, the Argentinian says his focus is firmly on winning football's greatest prize.
"Winning the World Cup is what is missing," Messi is quoted as saying in the Sun. "The truth is, yes, I would swap a Ballon d'Or for the World Cup, I've always felt like that. Nothing compares with being world champion.
"I want to achieve things with Barcelona and with my country, which I've always said is my dream."
Messi has inevitably drawn comparisons with the last man to lead Argentina to World Cup glory, Diego Maradona, but he insists the expectations from his countrymen do not weigh too heavily on his mind.
"It makes me so happy that many important people talk well of me," he explained. "Each year my objective is to grow, not to stay with what I have. As for what I don't know, I want to try and learn and get better.
"Last year I was welcomed back home in a spectacular way because the people are now behind the national team. It had been a long time that this chemistry had been lost and I am happy we finished the year so well.
"We are working hard to give the people of Argentina the best, and many joys. Today, you can see the unity. That makes Argentina stronger.
"To see people talking well of the national team is different to see criticism from everywhere before you even set foot back. That hurts."
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thilly100
"come to englaqnd...2 teams in spain..ya u can score 100 goal a week in spain cos der s 2 tims...kaak "
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