After leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, Lionel Messi was named the best men's player at the 2022 The Best FIFA Awards.

• Messi was instrumental in Argentina's World Cup victory.
• In Qatar, he also won the Golden Ball.
• Is this his second FIFA Best Male Player award?

WHAT Happend? The Rosario native finally got his hands on the coveted international trophy on the fifth try and was instrumental in his country's success this winter. Messi scored seven goals and provided three assists during the tournament, scoring in each knockout round for the first time in his international career before Qatar, with his most memorable contribution coming in a dramatic final in Lusail.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: The Albiceleste captain also received the Golden Ball award as the tournament's best player, making him the first player in history to do so twice, having previously won it in Brazil in 2014. Messi has yet to win a team trophy with Paris Saint-Germain this season, but he has contributed 33 goals in 28 games, helping Christophe Galtier's side to an eight-point lead in Ligue 1.

AND IT GETS BETTER: Messi won FIFA's The Best Men's Player award for the second time since its rebranding in 2016, joining his FIFA World Player of the Year award from 2009. His second title brings him level with Cristiano Ronaldo (2016, 2017) and Robert Lewandowski (2020, 2021), who have won all but one, with only the 2018 edition going to a different player, Luka Modric.

WHAT DID YOU KNOW? Messi is the only player to have scored in the World Cup while still in his teens, twenties, and thirties.

WHAT COMES NEXT? Messi will be hoping to continue his fine form at club level when PSG hosts Nantes in the league on Sunday after winning

FIFA's prestigious individual award.

Credit to : Goal