Barcelona are back on form, and their dynamic Brazilian full-back believes that Messi deserves much of the credit.

2009 FIFA Confederations Cup: Daniel Alves,  Brazil v South Africa (PA)

2009 FIFA Confederations Cup: Daniel Alves, Brazil v South Africa (PA)

Daniel Alves believes that Lionel Messi should complete a clean sweep of player of the year awards after a impressive 12 months with Barcelona.

The Brazilian believes that his team-mate is the best in the world. Messi helped the Blaugrana to win a unique treble last term and continued to grow in stature.

This season has seen no change in the young Argentine. He has returned to form for Barca and on Tuesday night shone once more, with two goals and an assist against Racing Santander.

“To be the best in the world, you have to be different, and Messi is in every match. We’re hoping he wins all the awards as best player,” Alves was quoted as saying by the club’s official website.

Alves believes that as well as Messi returning to form, the team is also beginning to play like they did at their height last term.

“We’re rediscovering the tone that perhaps we lacked at the beginning. We are improving all the time, which is our aim,” he continued.

“We moved the ball more and created more chances, as well as scoring goals, which is the most important [thing]. The guys up front played very well.”

Lionel Messi’s two goals against Sevilla FC on the thirteenth round of the Spanish league 2008/09.

Date: November 29, 2008
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Lionel Messi’s goal against Sporting Lisbon on the fifth date of the Champions League’s group stage, 2008/09

Date: November 26, 2008
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Lionel Messi’s goal against Recreativo Huelva on the eleventh date of the 2008/09 Spanish league.

Date: November 16, 2008
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Lionel Messi scored two goals in FC Barcelona’s 6-1 win over Sporting Gijón in the third round of the 2008/09 Spanish league.

Date: September 21, 2008
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Lionel Messi’s goal against Racing Santander in the second date of the Spanish league 2008/09.

Date: September 14, 2008
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Lionel Messi scored a goal and gave an assist to Di Maria in the quarter-finals of the Beijing Oympic Games against the Netherlands.

Date: August 17, 2008
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Lionel Messi’s goal against Ivory Coast in the first match of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Date: August 7, 2008
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Lionel Messi’s three goals in a friendly pre-season match against Dundee United.

Date: July 27, 2008
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Lionel Messi’s goal in a pre-season friendly match against Hibernian.

Date: July 25, 2008
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