FC Barcelona: Leo Messi, 3 Time Ballon D' or Winner Graces 'Time' Cover

Lionel Messi has been selected to grace the front cover of Time magazine. The event is the first time that Time magazine (from the US) has elected a world football player to grace its cover.

The news was published on the FC Barcelona web page. The Time magazine issue is expected to be on sale to the public on January 29, 2012.

The magazine cover is expected to have the caption "King Leo" with the sobriquet "The Greatest Player In The World".  The appearance of a world football player on the cover of Time magazine or other US magazines (with the exception of those dedicated to sports and world football) is long overdue.

The mainstream media in the USA is beginning to take world football seriously with the presence of personalities such as Lionel Messi and Hope Solo. The match between FC Barcelona and Chivas of Guadalajara at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida last summer was attended by more than 70,000 people.  The attendance is considered the highest rate of a world football match in Florida.

I would like to extend my congratulations to Lionel Messi and FC Barcelona for gracing the front cover of Time.