体坛英语新闻：Messi congratulates Spanish team for triumph

BUENOS AIRES, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi congratulated the Spanish national soccer team for having won the World Cup 2010 and added that they "deserves it" and Spain represents his "second country."

Messi said on website: "I want to congratulate with all my heart the Spanish team for the World Championship, very deserved."

"I am really happy for my mates of the (Spanish club) FC Barcelona, for the rest of the Spanish team and for all the Spaniards," Messi said.

Spain won the World Cup on Sunday after defeating Holland 1-0 at the second half of the extra time.

Messi added that "after so many years living in Barcelona and after our (Argentina) elimination, my support was for Spain, for being my second country; I could not stop congratulating all the Spaniards. Congratulations!"