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The star Lionel Messi is among the 32 candidates to become the prestigious United States magazine "Time" 2011 Person of the Year.
Since 1927, the selection process has identified the person who has had the "greatest influence, whether positive or negative, over the events of the year."
In Messi's profile it is written: "Two hundred million soccer fans around the world don't agree on many things, but they are almost unanimously in agreement on who is the best player of the current generation. Unlike his countryman Diego Maradona, 24-year-old Messi has not yet hoisted the most important prize above his head - the World Cup trophy, but with his club he has won everything possible."
And it is added: "Leo has raised soccer to a new level in terms of commercial appeal. This is evidenced by the rapidly growing number of American children wearing jerseys with Messi's name at school."
Among the contenders for one of the most prestigious personal awards in the world this year are the late "Apple" CEO Steve Jobs, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, U.S. President Barack Obama, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Prince William's wife Kate Middleton, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and others.
In 2010, the "Time Person of the Year" was recognized as the co-founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg.
