‘King Leo’makes the cover of this week’s TIME magazine but not in the US

Saturday, January 28th 2012 - 09:51 UTC

Full article 8 comments

Argentine born Lionel Messi, three-time FIFA player of the year, is on the cover of this week's Time, but only if you buy it in Europe, Asia or the South Pacific. The United States cover is actually devoted to “The Power of Shyness”. Read full article

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Sir Rodderick Bodkin
Stay Classy Leo!
Jan 28th, 2012 - 12:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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tobias
And all that adventitious trumpery regarding soccer and the US is relevant to the topic because?... I really don't grasp Mercopress's intentions sometimes.

If anything it proves the United States is irrelevant in soccer, even in today's globalized information society. Messi (or any other), can become the best remunerated and achieve the cachet of most acclaimed player in the world, without any say from the world's superpower.

A far more central theme the magazine raised, completely ignored here, was why does the world love and appreciate Messi, but not so the case in Argentina...
Jan 28th, 2012 - 02:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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O gara
Of course Argentina appreciates Messi but if you have had Moreno,Pedernera,Sivori,Onega,Alonso,Maradona,Ortega its not the same as in Europe to go on bended knee.
Jan 28th, 2012 - 11:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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you are not first
Time needs a controversial statement to reach a “selling point” by saying that Argentinian do not like Messi. I am sure everyone wants to have a Messi in his team. Even more, any country would like him to change his citizenship. The only true is that his heart is in Argentina. Just confirm where he spends every single vacation and you will see. Also, NOTHING can be compared to the emotional support and unconditional love that his neighborhood and his city of Rosario gives to Messi and his family every time he stops by.
Messi still is a simple men, who is not distracted by the fame. For that he is a rich man. It is hard to understand this if you do not live and enjoy the Argentina culture
Jan 29th, 2012 - 03:44 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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tobias
Hold on... I'm not suggesting Messi the man (even though his countenance is still that of a man-child), is disliked. In my opinion, Messi is the most wholesome, and positive athlete Argentina has had in modern times (Ginobili would be a close 2nd if only because his sport is less popular in the world, but his conduct has also been impeccable). Humble, drug-free, family-oriented, munificent, polite, equable of character... he's still loyal to his childhood sweetheart for goodness sakes (he could have any woman we can assume). In other words, immaculate—thus far. All this despite the fact he became so successful so young, and a multi-millionaire, a circumstance whose milieu has proven destructive for so many.

BUT... in terms of cold sport results, it has not happened yet. And in Argentina, what Messi does in Europe is irrelevant. All that matters is the
achievement sheet, and there is only one acceptable achievement for the Argentine national football team. Anything else is dismissed.
Jan 29th, 2012 - 05:00 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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O gara
Tobias you are correct.For Messi to have the love a huge number of Argentines have for Maradona he needs two things 1 to win the Mundial and 2 he must play for River or.Boca for a number of years
Jan 29th, 2012 - 07:02 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Kiwisarg
3 O gara
you forgot to include in your list the Luifer, 9 Belgrano club, from Codoba, he was Pirata!!! he was a great player!! mate
Jan 30th, 2012 - 06:27 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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O gara
Che Kiwi I thought I had a little idea of futbol but here I have to bow to superior knowledge
Jan 30th, 2012 - 08:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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