Barca Defends Lionel Messi Over Racial Abuse Claims

Barca Defends Lionel Messi Over Racial Abuse Claims

Barcelona staunchly defended Lionel Messi over a claim he racially abused a black Real Madrid player several seasons ago, calling it ''well wide of the mark.''

Dutch midfielder Royston Drenthe, on loan to Everton, was quoted in a Dutch magazine as saying he was taunted by the three-time Fifa player of the year during several of their Spanish league encounters.

''The player has always shown a maximum respect and sportsmanship towards his rivals, something which has been recognised by his fellow professionals many times, and we are sure that any accusations to the contrary are well wide of the mark,'' Barcelona said in a statement on Thursday. ''His behavior throughout his career has always been exemplary.''

Lionel Messi

Drenthe, who is black, claims Messi used the word ''negro'' in a negative tone. Liverpool's Luis Suarez was suspended for eight games this season for taunting Manchester United's Patrice Evra with the same word seven times in a match between the teams.

Drenthe was quoted as telling Helden magazine that he was ''bothered'' by the tone in which Messi ''always called me 'negro, negro.'''

Drenthe said he realised that the term is commonly used in South American countries, but that ''we cannot stand it.''

Drenthe played several seasons at Madrid before being loaned to Hercules last season, and he moved to Everton this season. The 25-year-old never cemented his place at either Spanish club due to on-field performances and off-field problems, and recently was excluded from manager David Moyes' lineup for disciplinary reasons.

Messi has scored an unprecedented 72 goals in all competitions this season, including a league record 50.

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi

Messi began playing football at a young age and his potential was quickly identified by Barcelona. He left Rosario-based Newell's Old Boys's youth team in 2000 and moved with his family to Europe, as Barcelona offered treatment for his growth hormone deficiency. Making his debut in the 2004 - 05 season, he broke the La Liga record for the youngest footballer to play a league game, and also the youngest to score a league goal. Major honours soon followed as Barcelona won La Liga in Messi's debut season, and won a double of the league and UEFA Champions League in 2006.

lionel messi

His breakthrough season was in 2006 - 07: he became a first team regular, scoring a hat-trick in El Clásico and finishing with 14 goals in 26 league games. Perhaps his most successful season was the 2008 - 09 season, in which Lionel Messi scored 38 goals to play an integral part in a treble winning campaign.

Lionel Messi was the top scorer with six goals, including two in the final game of the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. Shortly thereafter, he became an established member of Argentina's senior international team. In 2006 he became the youngest Argentine to play in the FIFA World Cup and he won a runners-up medal at the Copa América tournament the following year. In 2008, in Beijing, he won his first international honour, an Olympic gold medal, with the Argentina Olympic football team.