Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has declared that winning the Ballon d'Or
would be "very special" and says he never dreamed of achieving such a feat.

The Ballon d'Or winner for 2009 will be announced on December 1 with Messi widely tipped to claim the award.

"It is a very special award and would be really nice [to win] because every player would like to have it. It would be very special for me too. I honestly never dreamed of it," Messi declared.

In an interview with Canal +, the 22-year-old Argentinean also declared how new arrival at Camp Nou, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, has changed the style of play at the club and he also identified Argentina coach, Diego Maradona, as his only idol in football but says he would prefer if the Albiceleste played a similar still to Barca.

"He [Maradona] has always been the greatest. I was not lucky enough to see him play because I was too young. There will never be another like him. Apart from him I never had another idol," Messi revealed.

"It would be better to play with a system similar to Barca."