UEFA president Platini: Messi is a killer

Posted Tuesday, March 20, 2012 by YAHOO Sport

UEFA president Michel Platini has praised Barcelona attacker Lionel Messi stating that the diminutive attacker has shown a true killer instinct.

The Argentina international has been on fire on the scoring front, with his strike in Saturday's 2-0 victory at Sevilla taking his tally to 51 competitive goals for the Blaugrana in 2011-12.

"Messi never gets tired," Platini told AFP. "I think he is a true killer. Just like he is sweet and kind off the pitch, he has a killer and goalscoring instinct on the pitch. There is no secret. You have to be a killer on the pitch to do what he does. Barca must make the most of his qualities because he does amazing things."

However, Platini, whose record of winning the Ballon D'Or award for three years running was recently equaled by Messi, stressed that the Argentine talent is not Barca's only asset.

"I saw the Club World Cup final in Japan and it was amazing," Platini added. "It is not only Messi, who gives the finishing touch, who shows a great desire, but also the rest of the players, as they all share the same spirit. That is the way they play."

Platini has been head of European football's administrative body since 2007, taking over from Lennart Johansson.