I am an American living in Madrid, Spain. The ETERNAL ENEMY OF BARCA...but I love BARCA. This team has to give its thanks to LAPORTA, who was the President who put this team together beginning with Frank Rykart, the coach. They have kicked but. 20th Century..Real Madrid, 21st Century ALL GOES TO BARCA. MESSI is the KING OF FOOTBALL....PERIOD...Cristiano Ronaldo is second...Like Foreman had he Ali, Ronaldo has his Messi. WAY TO GO BARCA..VISCA BARCA...ALL THE WAY!!!
How arrogant of you... It is ok for Jordan, Lebron & Kobe to get worldwide publicity but not for another talented team from a world's biggest game? Try to have an open mind... Besides I am tired of hearing mostly the same propaganda about problems created by the powers that be...
With all that's going on in the world, WHY is 60 Minutes wasting its time covering a professional soccer team from another country. I'm a former soccer player and even I don't watch soccer on TV. Few in America do.
Because FC Barcelona has a business and education model that we could learn from. Plus, I work in an inner city school, and I have very large number of students who look up to Messi before Lebron or Kobe or any other American athlete.
Because you don't watch football on TV, you don't yet realize how ridiculously spectacular this team is. But because you used to play, all you will have to do is watch and see.
So what do you think they should concentrate on? Innocent kids getting shot in a school that makes you wanna break your TV. I think it's a breath of fresh air. This team is done some impossible tasks in the sports world and as an ex soccer player myself, I am going to watch 60 min for the first time because they are showing something that's not sad and depressing. I'm sure it will be more interesting than "why did this women marry a terrorist" I do not need 60 min to answer that.
I'm actually glad CBS is showing how real football (soccer) is played. A LOT of people in America, including myself, watch football on TV and are soccer fan, but don't watch American teams play. I watch international soccer. Lionel Messi is going to receive an honor today which no other soccer player in the world has ever received. Barcelona shows the world how this sports is really played. Don't know that they are the best in the world as a team, but they are certainly one of the best.
As another lifelong American soccer player, I used to feel the same way - I loved playing the game, but couldn't stand to watch it on TV. The level of the game is this country is depressingly low. Watching Barca play is almost like watching a different sport altogether. It's beautiful and makes me long to be young enough to play that way myself.
your experiences are not typical of all americans... there are quite a few who value and enjoy the beautiful game. I'm curious about your view of "all that's going on in the world", i fear you might mean events such as war, famine, looming economic collapse and the like?
anyway, as a current soccer player, i urge you to go out and play again, kick the ball around, watch some pro soccer at a local bar, support a semi pro team (drink some beer in the stands, chant their lewd refrains, and lose yourself in the revelry or physical rivalry)... it is a welcome break from "all thats going on in the world."
if you can't find a place to do this where you are, visit detroit, we have a lovely, lively and blossoming soccer culture.... le rouge!
because they do what they do better than any team on Earth, and rarely buy their players, as the segment talked about, they breed them. Not noteworthy?
since the 2008 season Barca have won the following:
La Liga (3): 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 Copa del Rey (2): 2008-09, 2011-12 Supercopa de Espana (3): 2009, 2010, 2011 UEFA Champions League (2): 2008-09, 2010-11 UEFA Super Cup (2): 2009, 2011 FIFA Club World Cup (2): 2009, 2011
To be considered the best in the WORLD a team must win more than "Copa del Rey" (a very regional tournament) in 2012. Perhaps the best in Spain but even that is questionable.
Great team indeed but to say the greatest team in the world is pushing a little too far. Barcelona did not even win the European Championship in 2012. FIFA Club World Cup was decided between Chelsea and Corinthians, and the Brazilian team took the title. In football, as in any other sport, it is the record that counts not the perception. And the title of the the best team of the world for 2012 goes to Corinthians. To the winner we should render the title as the best in the world, never to the looser. After all, this is what sports are all about - winners and losers.
Achille, I am not interested in just European football but in World football. If you want to consider Barcelona the best club in Europe, I can probably understand although in 2012 the title should be given to Chelsea, after all, they won the UEFA tournament. But to consider Barcelona the best in the world I find that far fetched. And although Corinthians is not my club, they won, so they should deserve the title of "best in the world". Sports are competitive events, so the winner is the best. As simple as that.
Lovely that Corinthians beat Chelsea in the Club World Cup. Neither team could beat Barca 3 times out of five. Chelsea was incredibly lucky to get past them last year to win the Champions League.
Nothing against Corinthians, in fact I think they are one of the best teams in South America and they will continue to be. But here the talk is about FC Barcelona being the best team of all times not just in 2012. Barsa is seeing the results of trusting players from their youth academy and have won 14 titles of 16 in the past 5 years without counting the titles they can win this season. Not only that, they also play fantastic football, something beautiful to see. In fact, it's quality of associative play is so compelling that is magical.
Molecule, You could only make that statement if those teams had a real chance to pay those 5 games otherwise it is down to just it 0 your opinion. And I don~t buy opinions, only facts.
Blaugrana, In 2012 Barcelona did not win any international competition. Beautiful game indeed but it takes more than that to stay on top. The media in the US has been ignoring South America soccer for quite a while now. In 2012, Brazil and Mexico played on the final game of the London Olympics, Corinthians of Brazil beat the European champions to win FIFA Club World Cup. South American soccer is far superior than European soccer. Proof of that lies on the fact that the even the best players of Europe today come from South America - Messi, Kaka, Falcao etc. Now, my question for you is: HOW MUCH DO YOU READ ABOUT SOUTH AMERICAN SOCCER IN THE US??
Loving what one does makes a huge difference. Lionell Messi's loyalty and commitment to his love for this sport makes him inseparable from his ball. It is a Joy to see him move with the ball. Elegant, effortless yet determined. Makes everyone else look heavy footed.
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How arrogant of you... It is ok for Jordan, Lebron & Kobe to get worldwide publicity but not for another talented team from a world's biggest game? Try to have an open mind... Besides I am tired of hearing mostly the same propaganda about problems created by the powers that be...
anyway, as a current soccer player, i urge you to go out and play again, kick the ball around, watch some pro soccer at a local bar, support a semi pro team (drink some beer in the stands, chant their lewd refrains, and lose yourself in the revelry or physical rivalry)... it is a welcome break from "all thats going on in the world."
if you can't find a place to do this where you are, visit detroit, we have a lovely, lively and blossoming soccer culture.... le rouge!
La Liga (3): 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11
Copa del Rey (2): 2008-09, 2011-12
Supercopa de Espana (3): 2009, 2010, 2011
UEFA Champions League (2): 2008-09, 2010-11
UEFA Super Cup (2): 2009, 2011
FIFA Club World Cup (2): 2009, 2011
has any other team been more successful?
I am not interested in just European football but in World football. If you want to consider Barcelona the best club in Europe, I can probably understand although in 2012 the title should be given to Chelsea, after all, they won the UEFA tournament. But to consider Barcelona the best in the world I find that far fetched. And although Corinthians is not my club, they won, so they should deserve the title of "best in the world". Sports are competitive events, so the winner is the best. As simple as that.
You could only make that statement if those teams had a real chance to pay those 5 games otherwise it is down to just it 0 your opinion. And I don~t buy opinions, only facts.
Blaugrana,
In 2012 Barcelona did not win any international competition. Beautiful game indeed but it takes more than that to stay on top. The media in the US has been ignoring South America soccer for quite a while now. In 2012, Brazil and Mexico played on the final game of the London Olympics, Corinthians of Brazil beat the European champions to win FIFA Club World Cup. South American soccer is far superior than European soccer. Proof of that lies on the fact that the even the best players of Europe today come from South America - Messi, Kaka, Falcao etc. Now, my question for you is: HOW MUCH DO YOU READ ABOUT SOUTH AMERICAN SOCCER IN THE US??