Lionel Messi wins another FIFA Best: What’s there left for him to achieve?

Lionel Messi stood on a stage in Paris, clutching his 77th individual award and beaming as he spoke about his “tremendous year” that saw him lift the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Another award ceremony, another individual accolade for the collection, another acceptance speech blending humility, appreciation and faux surprise. The little boy from Rosario, Santa Fe is still very much at the top almost two decades after he first finished 2nd behind Kaka in the FIFA Best Player of the Year (current FIFA The Best) award.

Lionel Messi cradles his FIFA The Best award during the Paris ceremony on Monday night. (AFP via Getty Images)

The Argentinean maestro, therefore, adds another trophy to his incredible individual honors list. He is already the player with the most Ballon d’Ors in history (7) and he is now also tied at the top of The Best table with Cristiano Ronaldo (2016 and 2017) and Robert Lewandowski (2020 and 2021).

In the voting for the FIFA World Player of the Year, Messi edged out his PSG team-mate Mbappe and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema.

Lionel Messi was directly involved in 79 goals during the voting period for The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award:

◎ 74 games
◉ 45 goals
◉ 34 assists
◎ 4 trophies#TheBest pic.twitter.com/JzUzqM2vDz

— Squawka (@Squawka) February 27, 2023

It has gotten to the stage where individual awards no longer matter to Lionel Messi, however the Argentine was given yet another gong as he was voted as ‘The Best’ winner for 2022.

Over the course of the voting period for The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award, the former Barcelona forward scored 45 goals and registered 34 assists in 74 appearances for both club and country, winning four trophies. 79 goal involvements is quite the achievement and it has certainly been taken into account by the voters for The Best Award.

It was a reward for Messi’s exceptional World Cup campaign with Argentina in Qatar. (Image: FIFA)

By winning his first World Cup, the No. 10 touched the skies in Qatar. Being the star of the Argentine team, tournament MVP, and scorer of two goals in the final, he captured the one major title he was still without. Although losing the first match, he never gave up and eventually succeeded in capturing the coveted crown.

Leo Messi wins his 𝟕𝟕𝐭𝐡 individual award 😱 pic.twitter.com/7R27gtWuov

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 27, 2023

In one of the most epic finals in living memory, Messi beat Kylian Mbappé, also a finalist for The Best and scorer of three goals in that match, to give the trophy to an entire country that suffered during every one of the matches his team played.

Moreover, his performances with Paris Saint-Germain and the 0-3 Finalissima title against Italy, where he was also named best player, leave no doubt that he deserved, once again, this distinction.

FIFA #TheBest Votes:
Players;
🥇Leo Messi – 717
🥈Kylian Mbappé – 395
🥉Karim Benzema – 301

Coaches;
🥇 Leo Messi – 728
🥈 Mbappé – 478
🥉 Benzema – 230

Fans;
🥇Messi 1,345,851
🥈Mbappé 391,676
🥉Benzema 200,009 pic.twitter.com/i3FnPTBFWX

— BeksFCB (@Joshua_Ubeku) February 27, 2023

What’s there left for him to do?

Lionel Messi has won everything, be it a team trophy or individual award, he won it multiple times. There used to be media-driven Messi vs Ronaldo debate, although people who knew the game were aware that it was just a media talking point but even that tedious Messi vs Ronaldo debate, which kept people entertained for the better part of two decades, has been settled.

Many football fans believed the argument was over as soon as Messi lifted the World Cup in Qatar just before Christmas. While it lasted, it had been enjoyable, but Messi is now the GOAT.

While Ronaldo stormed out of his final World Cup in floods of tears, having been demoted to Portugal’s bench, Messi bent the entire tournament to his will.

Messi scored in every match Argentina played in the knockout round, demonstrating that even at the age of 35, he still maintained the winning spirit that has characterized his amazing career. Messi scored twice in a final against France that was occasionally so absurd it could have been played on FIFA by two eight-year-olds. As he finally got his hands on the most famous trophy of them all and was lifted shoulder high by team-mates just like his idol Diego Maradona, it had truly been Messi’s World Cup.

For him personally, it was the last box to tick, the dramatic last sentence on the CV, and the long-sought-after flashy sticker that was finally incorporated into his album.

Messi bent the World Cup to his will, scoring in every knockout game to inspire his team. (AFP via Getty Images)

Full list of The Best FIFA Awards 2022 winners

The Best FIFA Women’s Player: Alexia Putellas (Spain/FC Barcelona Femení)
The Best FIFA Men’s Player: Lionel Messi (Argentina/Paris Saint-Germain FC)
The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper: Mary Earps (England/Manchester United WFC)
The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martínez (Argentina/Aston Villa FC)
The Best FIFA Women’s Coach: Sarina Wiegman (England Women’s National Team)
The Best FIFA Men’s Coach: Lionel Scaloni (Argentina Men’s National Team)
The FIFA Puskas Award: Marcin Oleksy (Poland/Warta Pozna)
The FIFA Fair Play Award: Luka Lochoshvili (Georgia/Wolfsberger AC/U.S. Cremonese)
The FIFA Fan Award: Argentinian Fans