The Barcelona star Lionel Messi is yet to get the favor of sport fans back in Argentina, as he was beaten by tennis star Del Potro, in a contest for the Argentine Athlete of 2009 award.

Lionel Messi has been Europe’s top figure in football this year, having helped Barcelona to dominate in six competition, including La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the Spanish Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup.

However, it looks like the main concern of sport lovers in Argentina is shifted on Lionel Messi’s poor form for his country. Messi hasn’t been scoring regularly in his recent games for the Albicelestes, despite all the expectations from Coach Maradona and the rest of his supporters.

It was therefore the Argentine tennis expert’s chance on December 23 to clinch the Argentine Athlete of 2009 honor, as he surpassed the reigning FIFA Player of the Year Lionel Messi in the voting.

Del Potro won the U.S. Open, in addition to other tournaments in Washington and Auckland, and he also reached the Masters Series Finals in London.

Isaac Asante, LMF