D'Or open to Messi

MADRID: Lionel Messi is poised to collect the Ballon D'Or accolade on Tuesday and the Argentine showed why with a mesmerizing display to help Barcelona defeat Real Madrid 1-0 in a sizzling 'El Clasico' at Camp Nou on Sunday.

Substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the winning goal on 56 minutes but with the world watching Messi stole the show with his mazy runs, clever turns and incredible close control all the more impressive given he was a doubt for the match with a thigh injury.

Messi, still only 22, scored in the previous two Clasicos - which finished 2-0 and 6-2 in Barca's favor - but could not cap his stellar display with a goal with Iker Casillas denying him with a wonder save in the closing stages.