Lionel Messi Named SI Latino’s
2007 Sportsman of the Year
The Star of FC Barcelona and the Argentine National Soccer Team Is
Honored as Sports Illustrated Latino’s Second
Sportsman of the Year
NEW YORK (Business Wire EON) December 10, 2007 --
Lionel Messi, the most exciting player in the world’s
most popular sport, has been chosen as SI Latino’s
2007 Sportsman of the Year. The award, bestowed upon the Hispanic
athlete who best symbolizes the ideals of sportsmanship in both
character and performance, was announced by SI Latino Editor Chris Hunt.
The Sportsman of the Year issue, dated December 10, will be distributed
to SI Latino subscribers beginning today. The cover story honoring the
20-year-old Messi will also be available in English on SI.com.
“In 2007 Lionel Messi went from being a
wildly talented prodigy to being the best soccer player in the world,”
says Hunt. “He became the leader not only of
the star-studded Barcelona club but also of the Argentine national team,
scoring sensational goals that were the talk of Spain’s
La Liga and the Copa América and were beamed
around the world on TV and the Internet. Through it all he remained
humble and a team player, qualities that may someday put him in the
company of the greatest soccer players of all time: Pelé,
Diego Maradona and Alfredo Di Stéfano.”
In the December-January cover story, “The
New King,” distinguished journalist and
SI Latino contributor John Carlin talks with Messi about his early
sacrifice when, at the age of 13, he left friends and a good part of his
family behind in Argentina to enter for FC Barcelona’s
celebrated youth training system. Carlin also breaks down Messi’s
three most memorable goals of 2007, and draws out the young star on his
love for the game and on what it’s like to be
looked upon for leadership, inspiration and scoring despite being the
youngest starter on a Barcelona squad full of stars such as Ronaldinho,
Thierry Henri and Samuel Eto’o.
In addition to Carlin’s cover story on Messi,
SI Latino profiles the 12 other outstanding Hispanic athletes of 2007.
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The Dominican Dynamic Duo - David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez
of the Boston Red Sox.
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The Puerto Rican Bomber - WBA welterweight champion Miguel
Cotto.
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Breakout Star of the Copa America - Nery Castillo of
Mexico's national soccer team.
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The Sheriff of Dallas - Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.
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The Experienced Newcomer - Juan Pablo Montoya, NASCAR's
Rookie of the Year.
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Pure Talent with a Club - The 2007 U.S. Open golf champion,
Angel Cabrera of Argentina.
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A True Number One - The 2007 LPGA Player of the Year,
Mexico's Lorena Ochoa.
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Soccer's Wonder Woman - Marta, leader of World Cup
runner-up Brazil.
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A Rugger With Claws - Juan Martin Hernandez of Argentina's
rugby team, the Pumas.
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The Chief of Receivers - Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony
Gonzalez.
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Jumping Toward Beijing - World long-jump champion Irving
Saladino of Panama.
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About SI Latino
SI Latino is Sports Illustrated’s
Spanish-language magazine, a bimonthly publication devoted to Hispanic
athletes and distributed free to 500,000 subscribers in the mainland
U.S. and Puerto Rico. For a free subscription, go to our website, www.silatino.com,
and simply provide your name and address.
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