Messi happy to help those in need

[many a good man]

A man who torments opposing defenders is equally adept at helping children in need. FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi, as part of the UEFA.com users' Team of the Year 2009, received a cheque for €100,000 from the adviser to the UEFA president, William Gaillard, before last night's UEFA Champions League first knockout round second-leg encounter with VfB Stuttgart at Camp Nou – before going to on to score twice in an outstanding display as Barcelona charged into the quarter-finals.

The cheque will be donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and its campaign to support land-mine victims in Afghanistan. UEFA began its partnership with the ICRC when it started to support its anti land-mine campaign in 1997. This is third time the ICRC will benefit from the cheque offered by UEFA in relation to the selection of the UEFA.com users' Team of the Year.

Forward Messi's outstanding achievements with Barça, including the Catalan outfit conquering the UEFA Champions League last season, resulted in a record 250,000 votes from UEFA.com users in the Team of the Year 2009 poll. "It is a beautiful feeling," he told UEFA.com. "It is a pleasure that people recognise my work, and that they are with me. And then also to be the one with the most votes, when many great players have been nominated, that feels like a great appreciation."

The Argentinian international said before the 4-0 defeat of Stuttgart that it was a great honour to be elected into the Team of the Year. He explained that it also helped him realise both how lucky he was, and how much he could give to less fortunate people around the world. He was therefore pleased to present the cheque for €100,000 to the ICRC– "which will support that organisation in helping children who really need it".

Video and more at: http://www.uefa.com/uefa/socialresponsibility/adhocpartnership/news/newsid=1464975.html


Messi running to the rescue of children around the world: