Argentine soccer phenom Lionel Messi stormed into second behind Portuguese sensation Cristiano Ronaldo in the running for the European Golden Shoe award, following a stunning performance in Barcelona's 5-1 dominating victory over Valencia, where he racked up four goals in a row.
Lionel Messi scored a late goal to keep Barcelona ahead.
Real Madrid and Barca played a tight match.
Barcelona took the 2-1 advantage in the quarterfinals.
The two teams meet on Wednesday at Santiago Bernabeu.
Two elite La Liga clubs battle in Madrid.
The two elite clubs meet on Wednesday in Madrid.
Two evenly matched squads meet in the quarter-finals.
Lionel Messi has claimed his crown as the world's best footballer in a third consecutive year, after being awarded FIFA's Balloon d'Or award in Zurich.
Messi is the first-ever player to win the FIFA Player of the Year award three-straight years.
Lionel Messi scored twice to bring Barca the title.
European champions Barcelona cruised to win their second FIFA Club World Cup with a 4-0 hammering of Brazilian side Santos in Yokohama, Japan.
Barca boss Pep Guardiola has rubbished such claims.
Top 10 rumored transfers involving the Gunners.
Barcelona went to the top of the La Liga table with a comeback 3-1 win over Real Madrid in the seventh El Clasico of the year at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Catalans got the win at Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid host Barcelona on Saturday.
The seventh and final El Clasico of 2011 will be played at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, as Real Madrid and Barcelona renew their fierce, and at times violent, rivalry in the Spanish League.
Los Galacticos host Barcelona in a highly anticipated match.
The two La Liga titans meet at Santiago Bernabeu.
The two La Liga giants tangle at Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed his dream-buy to be Santos star Neymar.