Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina forward Lionel Messi has been crowned Best FIFA Men’s Player for the second time in his illustrious career. Messi fought off tough competition from club teammate Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema to take home the prestigious award at the ceremony held in Paris on Monday.
The award recognises Messi’s remarkable performances during the period between the start of the 2021-22 season and the end of the World Cup. Messi’s exploits at the World Cup saw him lead Argentina to their first title in 36 years, ending a long and painful wait for the nation’s football fans.
In addition to lifting the World Cup trophy, Messi also claimed the Golden Ball award in Qatar. The Golden Ball is awarded to the best player of the tournament, and Messi’s outstanding performances in the tournament saw him score seven goals and provide three assists. These 10 direct goal involvements were matched by his clubmate Mbappe, who finished the tournament as the top scorer. However, Messi’s performances were deemed more impressive overall, earning him the Best FIFA Men’s Player award.
Despite a slow start to life at PSG, Messi has been in scintillating form this season. In his maiden campaign at the Parc des Princes, he scored 11 goals and provided 14 assists in 34 games. However, this season, he has matched those figures in just 18 games ahead of the World Cup.
Messi, who has also won a record seven Ballons d’Or, previously won the Best FIFA award in 2019. With this win, he joins Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski as two-time winners, having also finished as a runner-up three times.
In conclusion, Lionel Messi’s performances in the 2021-22 season and the World Cup were exceptional, and he fully deserves his second Best FIFA Men’s Player award. His achievements at both club and international level have cemented his place as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
