Lionel Messi's ankle injury has ruled him out of Barcelona's league derby with Espanyol Saturday, and makes him doubtful for its opening game of the Club World Cup, the European champion said Thursday. The Argentina international twisted his right ankle in Barca's 2-1 Champions League victory away to Dynamo Kiev Wednesday. After Saturday's visit of Espanyol in La Liga, Barca travels to the United Arab Emirates for the semifinals of the Club World Cup next Wednesday. The final, if it reach it, is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 19 after which the Spanish league goes into its two-week winter break. Vela signs new Arsenal deal Mexico striker Carlos Vela has signed a new contract with Arsenal, the English Premier League club said Thursday. The 20-year-old Vela, who joined Arsenal two years ago, is now set to stay with the north London club until 2015. Vela, who arrived at Arsenal from Spanish side Celta Vigo before returning to Spain for an 18-month loan spell, has so far scored seven goals in 38 first-team appearances for the Gunners. Ronaldinho is ‘Player of the Decade' Brazil forward Ronaldinho was named as World Player of the Decade by prestigious British magazine World Soccer Thursday, while Argentine forward Lionel Messi was named their World Player of the Year. Ronaldinho won the accolade based on the votes cast by readers in the 10 annual votes between 2000 and 2009 being converted into points. The Brazilian, who was the magazine's World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005, finished ahead of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid. Barcelona, the European club champions, won the Team of the Year award. Messi, winner of the 2009 Ballon D'Or award, is the first Argentine to win World Soccer's World Player award since Diego Maradona in 1986 and he led a clean sweep of Barcelona players in the player awards, ahead of teammates Andres Iniesta and Xavi. Eto'o set for another honor Cameroon and Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o is on track to win a record fourth CAF Africa Player award after he was named among five nominees for this year's prize. CAF director of communications, Suleiman Habuba, announced that Eto'o, along with Chelsea stars Didier Drogba and Michael Essien and Barcelona stars Yaya Toure and Seydou Keita, is on the short list of nominees. Eto'o, 28, previously won the award in 2003, 2004 and 2005. This year he helped Barcelona clinch a unique treble of the UEFA Champions League, the Spanish league title and Spanish Cup and also also led the ‘Indomitable Lions' of Cameroon to qualify for the 2010 World Cup Finals. Drogba and Essien helped their respective national teams, the Ivory Coast and Ghana, to qualify for next year's World Cup in South Africa as well as the Africa Cup of Nations. The award organizers announced that the award ceremony will take place on Feb. 25 in Dakar, Senegal.
