Lionel Messi's recent Ballon D'Or coronation has capped off a fine period of form from a player who was arguably the driving force behind Barcelona becoming the first La Liga outfit to win the famed treble.

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Victories in last season's Copa Del Rey, Spanish Primera and Champions League provided the foundations for Messi to take over Cristiano Ronaldo's tag as the world's best player. And perhaps also to provide the platform for a period of domination not just in Barcelona colours, but for Argentina.

Indeed, Messi has picked up where he left off, having already played a vital role in steering the European champions to the top of La Liga 13 games into the new season.

The 22-year-old midfielder currently has nine goals next to his name - three short of  leading scorers David Villa and Luis Fabiano.

After performing a starring cameo in Barcelona's latest victory against bottom placed Xerez, Messi's next task will be to play a dominant role in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup held in the United Arab Emirates.

Whilst winning the Club World Cup would cap off a stunning 2008/09 season for Messi, it will not place the young Argentinian alongside footballing royalty.

Whether his name should be mentioned alongside the game's greatest-ever players will hinge on his performances at next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.

Whilst he was not the culprit for the Albicelestes' lean showing during the World Cup qualifiers, the lack of confidence in Messi's game was there for all to see.

His last eight matches for Argentina have seen him fail to take the initaitive in a team that currently lacks an influential figure.

In the recent 2-1 defeat by Spain in Madrid, it took the Ballon D'Or winner more than half the game to stamp his play-making authority for Diego Maradona's men.

When Messi started controlling possession in the second-half, though, Argentina became the dominant team as Spain starting losing their cohesion.

Indeed, the rise in confidence was there for all to see when Messi scored from the penalty spot to level the scores, consolidating Argentina's dominant spell.

Unlike his consistent performances for Barcelona, however, Messi once again went into his shell and Argentina were made to look ordinary for the remainder of the contest, allowing Spain to rediscovered their flair to record a convincing victory.

Despite his lacklustre display, time is still on Messi's side for him to reproduce his fantastic Barcelona form on the international stage.

Argentina, along with France, are arguably the most dangerous dark horses in recent World Cup memory and have more than enough world-class players to make their recent results irrelevant in just over six months' time.

Whilst Maradona's men have stars across the park, the limelight will firmly be on Messi to replicate his idol's legendary World Cup run in Mexico 1986.

If he does manage to hit his stride in South Africa, then he will have earned his place alongside footballing immortals as not only one of the world's greatest ever, but arguably THE greatest of all time.