Messi: "Casillas is one of the best"
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi believes Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas is a serious contender for the Ballon d’Or.
As captain of Argentinian national team, Messi is one of the players who will cast their votes for the best footballer and coach in the world.
Last year he voted for teammates Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, as well as compatriot Sergio Aguero, and has stated that he is likely to vote the same way.
However, he acknowledged that the Real Madrid goalkeeper is definitely one of the players who are in the running for the coveted award.
"I haven't forgotten about Casillas," said Messi. "For me, him being a goalkeeper is not an obstacle to him winning.
“I don't think he should not be able to win this prize just because he plays in that position.
“He's a massively important player, one of the best goalkeepers in the world, if not the best."
Messi, who has won the Ballon d'Or for the last three years, says one of his main objectives right now is to help Argentina qualify for and then win the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
"We're coming up to the next World Cup, of course, and I want to be able to say that Argentina are champions of the world,” he said. “Winning the World Cup is a dream I have not yet realised."
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