The Spanish champions, with Lionel Messi on the bench, wasted a host of chances in the first half, with striker Pedro the main culprit against the team who took four points off Barcelona in last season’s competition.

Pedro missed a golden early opportunity, hitting a crossbar with the goal at his mercy following a perfect pass by David Villa. Pedro had another chance late in the first half but again shot wide of the post from 12 metres.

The Russian champions converted their first real chance, captain Christian Noboa scoring from the spot after Barca defender Dani Alves brought down Vitaly Kaleshin in the 30th minute.

Thirty minutes later Spain striker Villa equalised with another penalty after Andres Iniesta was fouled inside the box.

However, Rubin, who stunned the then European champions 2-1 in the Nou Camp before holding them to a 0-0 home draw in the group stage last season, frustrated the Catalans again with their defensive approach.

CHANCES WASTED

“It was very difficult for us to score tonight as Rubin had many players guarding their goal,” Villa told reporters.

“Still, we had a lot of chances, hit a post and also their keeper played well when he had to.”

Barca coach Pep Guardiola introduced Messi shortly after scoring the equaliser, looking to break down the home team’s fortress.

The World Player of the Year, who netted twice in Barca’s 5-1 demolition of Panathinaikos in their opening group game, had one good chance but Rubin keeper Sergei Ryzhikov did well to avert the danger.

At the other end, Rubin substitute Obafemi Martins could have given the hosts an unlikely victory three minutes from time but the Nigerian striker hit the post from close range.

After Martins had wasted his chance, Iniesta could have snatched the three points for the visitors with virtually the last kick of the game but he just clipped a shot over the bar.

Rubin earned their first point in the competition following a surprise 1-0 defeat at Copenhagen in their opening fixture and Barcelona have four points after two games.

“We needed at least a point to keep alive our chances in the group after losing in Copenhagen so I must admit that we’re satisfied with the draw,” Rubin coach Kurban Berdyev said.

Greek side Panathinaikos were hosting Danish champions Copenhagen in the other Group D match later on Wednesday.

Lionel Messi turned on a footballing masterclass last season and helped Barcelona win six out of six titles. The Argentine also scooped up quite a few awards, including the European Footballer of the Year and the FIFA World Player of the Year.

Nevertheless, according to a Spanish newspaper- Marca, Real Madrid ace Cristiano Ronaldo is a more complete player than Lionel Messi.

A statistical study has revealed that Ronaldo is, in fact, the better of the two. Marca declared that trying to separate the pair was as tough as “choosing between a mother or father”. However, they concluded that Messi’s woes with Argentina were key to him finishing behind Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo Vs Lionel Messi - Who is the Best?

Here’s the comparison of the two Spanish club players, according to Marca:Collective Game
Cristiano Ronaldo 7
Messi 8

Individual Technique
Cristiano Ronaldo 9
Messi 9

Physicality
Cristiano Ronaldo 10
Messi 7

Pace
Cristiano Ronaldo 9
Messi 8

Dribbling
Cristiano Ronaldo 8
Messi 10

Shooting
Cristiano Ronaldo 9
Messi 8

Passing
Cristiano Ronaldo 9
Messi 9

Heading
Cristiano Ronaldo 9
Messi 7

Leadership
Cristiano Ronaldo 9
Messi 7

Free-kicks and Penalties
Cristiano Ronaldo 9
Messi 7

Argentine and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi had won the FIFA World Player of the Year award. Earlier, he won the European Player of the Year. He has helped his club secure an unprecendented six titles this season.

The 22-year-old has picked up the award for the first time, beating last year’s winner- Cristiano Ronaldo and fellow Bracelona team-mates Xavi and Iniesta.

Messi was quoted saying:

“I’m extremely happy. We’ve just ended a historic year, a perfect year in which we’ve won every competition we’ve played in. We just needed to take this last step and everything has worked out how we wanted. It’s amazing.”

Other awards and honours won at the gala event held in Zurich were as follows :-

The Team of the Year

Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), John Terry (Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd), Patrice Evra (Man Utd), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Fernando Torres (Liverpool).

Puskas, Best Goal

Ronaldo won the trophy for the best goal of the 2008/09 season – his long-range thunderbolt for Manchester United against Porto in the Champions League in April.

Women Player of the Year

Brazilian player Marta took the honours for the fourth year in a row!

Fair Play

The late Sir Bobby Robson won this trophy for his outstanding commitment to the values of fair play throughout his career and was collected by his wife Elsie.

The European Footballer of the Year- Lionel Messi scored the decider for Barcelona in extra time as they lifted the trophy in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Earlier, Esudiantes’ Mauro Boselli scored in the 37th minute and the scoreline remained till the dying minutes of the game, the 89th minute to be precise. Pedro headed in the equalizer late in the game even though Barca had around 60% of possession.

The match continued in to extra tine. Messi netted the winner in the 110th minute.

“We played formidably, it was a victory we deserved. Six titles in a year is unequalled,”

coach Pep Guardiola said.

“What hurts most is we were so close with just minutes remaining but we were dignified in defeat. We lost to the best team in the world,”

said Estudiantes coach Alejandro Sabella.

Barcelona celebrating their latest victory