Dhoni is Messi Fan

he best footballer in the world is in India. Lionel Messi is in India.

India cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, an ardent football lover, has requested for Lionel Messi's autographed jersey, it is learnt. Dhoni made the request through Celebrity Management Group -- organisers of yesterday's Argentina vs Venezuela friendly at the Salt Lake Stadium.

It's hard to explain to non-football fans the rush of excitement and euphoria that a chance to see Messi in action brings. Imagine if Sachin Tendulkar hadn't been born in India. Imagine if you could only watch him play on television. Imagine never getting even so much as an opportunity to see him live on the field. And then imagine, if one day your wildest dream came true, and the 'God of Cricket' came to play in your city!

As in cricket, in the football circles too there is plenty of debate over who the greatest player of all time is. But there is no doubt now that Lionel Messi is the best of our generation, and by some distance. He can no longer be compared to contemporaries like Cristiano Ronaldo, as successful as the Portuguese has been. Instead, the debate is now over his place among the pantheon of all-time greats, such as Pele and Diego Maradona.

The list of his achievements is so long, the mind boggles! Since making his debut in the 2004-05 season and becoming the then-youngest player to ever score a league goal for Barcelona, Messi has gone from strength to strength. In the past three seasons, he has scored 138 goals in 159 games for his club, the fulcrum of an all-conquering side that amassed 11 trophies in that time, including three league titles and two Champions League crowns. He has an El Clasico hat-trick to his name, besides scoring in both the Champions League finals. And who can forget his goal against Getafe in 2007, which was similar to Maradona's famous strike - the ‘Goal of the Century’ - against England in the 1986 World Cup?

Last season, Messi became the first player to score 50 goals in a Spanish campaign, finishing with 53 goals in 55 games. The diminutive forward has begun this season in form as well. In four games so far, he already has six goals and two trophies (Spanish Super Cup and UEFA Super Cup). He is the youngest player to win the Ballon d'Or twice, besides winning a host of other awards confirming his status as the world's best player. Is there really a need to say more?

ll eyes, though, will be on the 5'7" Argentine. In a cricket-dominated country, it is almost beyond belief that football fans have a chance to see one of the finest footballers in an international game, that too in his prime. The anticipation is almost unbearable!

He has been called a "genius" by Maradona, a "sensation" by Johan Cruyff and a "PlayStation footballer" by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. It is now our chance to witness Messi's magic and brilliance.

The best footballer in the world is here. India and Kolkata are ready!