Ever sine Lionel Messi left Barcelona to play in the Beijing Olympics, the footballing side of the Olympics have had a jewel among them, igniting a passion and interest that has never been present in the Olympics before.  There was some speculation as to how the Blaugrana would fair without the young Argentinian starlet, but since Messi's departure, Barca has played brilliantly and shown mid-season form much earlier than anticipated.  Now while some wondered of Barca's form, their seemed to be absolutely no doubt about the impact little Lionel would have in Beijing.  Quickly becoming a fair argument for best player in the world, Barcelona's number 10 has improved exponentially since he cracked the first team squad after the 2004/05 season.

Some would say don't believe the hype, but those people must not be watching Beijing Olympics. 

The Argentinian maestro has consistently shined game in and game out as the best player on the pitch no matter which team his countryman are facing.  Already having scored some spectacular goals, Messi added to his list of memorable moments when he created a brilliant chance which led to the winning goal vs Holland, not to mention his earlier moment of beauty as he intercepted a pass deep in Holland's territory to only then slip past 2 defenders and score on a tough angle.  

If you have a chance to watch him in Beijing, do it!  He will match up against ex-Barca midfielder Ronaldinho when Argentina face Brazil.  A battle of the number 10's if you will, and it will surely be one to remember.

Ronnie's form has improved since he left Barcelona, but look for Messi to outshine the Brazilian on the pitch.  It should equate as a match to remember.   

According to Spanish newspapers and sport.es, it's been confirmed that Valencia have fallen into debt and are receiving offers for the stars, specifically David Silva and David Villa. Much speculation has surrounded Villa since his spectacular showing in the European Championships despite his absence from the championship game. His incredible pace, finishing, and ability to make space quickly made him the talk of the town in Barcelona as a possible replacement for Samuel Eto'o. As a member of the starting XI for the Spanish national team and the face of Valencia, Villa is already partial to the spanish style of play. In previous interviews questioning the possibility of a transfer, Villa expressed his passion for playing in Spain and his preference to remain there, rather than transferring to the Premiere League or Serie A.

With that being said, top clubs such as Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and of course Barcelona will surely challenge to snatch the star. The competition will be tight, but with the hints given by Villa, a move to the Blaugrana seems very possible. With his love for Barca's style and his own admission of his respect for the club, it would seem that if Eto'o goes, Villa could move on in as quickly as Hleb did after Ronaldinho. Still, Eto'o's agent recently stated that remaining in Barcelona is not out of the question. But just the same, a squad carrying Henry, Bojan, Messi, Eto'o, and Villa, simply seems out of the question

Villa is a much better option than Drogba in my opinion, and I think it would be rare to find someone who disagrees with that. However, Peppy G's plans may not include the smaller sized striker, as his targets have all seemed to be taller, lankier, and more like the "target man" style of player. Regardless, if Barcelona pass on Villa and he ends up playing with another top flight squad, the Catalan giants will regret their missed opportunity.

In other news, Messi has decided to travel with the team to Scotland, leaving many to wonder what will come of the recent Olympic drama.

And finally, in a somewhat laughable matter, Ronaldinho has opted to take the number 80 for his new AC Milan jersey, claiming that it represents his birth year, 1980. Clarence Seedorf is the current holder of the illustrious number 10 at the Italian club, and his unwillingness to hand over the number has been the first hint of unrest in the club since Ronaldinho's arrival. I don't want to sound too negative, but let's just hope that Ronnie doesn't turn up like another BRazilian who arrived in AC and decided to take an unorthodox number. Do you remember..... Ronaldo and his number 99?

Yeah, a year later, he faced allegations of sleeping with transvestite hookers, and suffered a blown knee. We'll see.

It was a July something day and Thierry Henry had just signed his new contract with the spanish giants, FC Barcelona. Sadness fell over the Emirates and a spirit of dominance and utter "unstoppability" took over the Catalan club. Henry left a legacy as one of the all-time great Gunners in Arsenal history while leaving an even bigger questions mark, how would they survive?

As it would turn out.... quite nicely. The English club dominated their table for the majority of the season, only to slip two spaces towards the end, and to be eliminated in the quarter finals of the Champions League. Despite failing to win a major trophy, Arsenal played some of the most attractive football in all of Europe and ushered in a new era of play. Many pointed at the recent departure of Henry as the key to unleashing this new style. Which is why it's come to be called, "the Henry effect."

Now what does all this have to do with Barcelona? Well, I believe that it is a definite possibility that the very same effect could occur with Ronaldinho heading for Italy. The squad has been under a cloud of uncertainty and unrest ever since the drama of Dinho began funneling to the press, and now that the situation has been settled, the team can focus on what is important. Winning the league table. 

With Ronnie out of the picture and Peppy G implementing his own coaching tactics, it's possible that Barcelona have been released of all that pressure, allowing them to return to their glory of 2004-2006. The key players are in position, and the training has begun. We will just have to wait until August to see if Ronaldinho's goodbye can spark "the Henry effect."  Lets just hope that Barca can solidify the title and finish out the Champions League on top, instead of dropping off the table when it matters most.