Lionel Messi's Argentina drew Venezuela 1-1 in a South American World Cup qualifying match Thursday that was delayed for 30 minutes due to a wet pitch at Monumental Stadium in the Venezuelan city of Maturin. Argentina, which leads the 10-team round-robin competition, now has 19 points after nine matches. Colombia, with 16 points, remains in second place after losing 1-0 at Bolivia. The two results momentarily put Brazil out of automatic World Cup berths, in seventh place with 10 points. The Brazilians will face Chile in Santiago later on Thursday. Argentina's lead in the competition could be reduced on Friday if Uruguay, with 15 points, wins at Peru. Defender Nicolás Otamendi opened the scoring for Argentina in the 13th minute. He pushed the ball to the empty net after a cross by Messi and a mistake by goalkeeper Rafael Romo. Salomón Rondón equalized in the 65th minute with a header for the only South American team that has yet to play in a World Cup. “The pitch did not help us do what we wanted to do," Messi said. He returned to the national team after missing the two previous rounds of South American qualifying due to ligament damage in his right ankle. Venezuela defender Jon Aramburu said his team wanted a win to show its ambition. Read: Messi quickly starts the process of looking ahead after Inter Miami wins MLS Supporters Shield “The rain affected the match, we couldn't play well,” he said. “We drew against a team that everyone knows of its potential. But this team is here to beat them, to compete.” Venezuela's next match will be at Paraguay on Tuesday, the same day that Argentina will host Bolivia. Colombia, the last unbeaten team in South American qualifying, was shocked at Bolivia in the Municipal Stadium in the city of El Alto, more than 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level. Bolivia moved into fifth place with 12 points after its first win in 21 years against the Colombians. Miguel Terceros, also known as Miguelito, scored the winning goal for Bolivia in the 58th minute with a powerful shot after dribbling through two defenders. Bolivia had lost Héctor Cuellar to a straight red card in the 21st minute after a gruesome tackle that forced the substitution of striker Roger Martinez, but the team remained competitive until the end of the match in its high-altitude stadium. “We are a young team that wants to change history," Terceros said. “Now we will travel to Argentina thinking about winning.” Bolivia hasn't qualified for a World Cup edition since the 1994 edition in the United States. Colombia's next rivall will be Chile, who will face Brazil later on Thursday. Also on Thursday, Ecuador and Paraguay drew 0-0. Read more: Argentina minus Messi beats Chile to lead South American World Cup qualifying The Ecuadorians are in fourth place with 12 points and ahead of Bolivia on goal difference. Paraguay remains out of an automatic qualifying spot with 10 points. The top six teams in the round-robin competition will secure automatic berths at the 2026 World Cup.

When Joan Monfort took photos of Lionel Messi with a baby for a charity calendar almost 17 years ago, he knew the long-haired young man would make it big in soccer. He could not have imagined the little boy would as well. The baby in the photos — which have gone viral — was none other than Lamine Yamal, the Spanish wunderkind, who at 16 is showing such promise that he’s already being compared to the greats. The youngest to have played for Spain, he became the youngest player ever in the ongoing European Championship in Germany. Messi’s 109th goal leads defending champion Argentina over Canada 2-0 and into Copa America final One of the long-forgotten photos from 2007 resurfaced after Yamal’s father posted it on Instagram last week with the text “the beginning of two legends.” Monfort, 56, who works as a freelance photographer for The Associated Press and others, said the photo shoot took place in the visitors’ locker room at Barcelona’s Camp Nou in the autumn of 2007, when Yamal was just a few months old. Barcelona players posed with children and their families for a calendar as part of an annual charity drive by local newspaper Diario Sport and UNICEF. Monfort was in charge of the photo shoots — and it just so happened that Messi was paired with Yamal’s family. His mother, who is from Equatorial Guinea, is next to Messi and the baby in one of the photos. “We made the calendar with the help of UNICEF. So UNICEF did a raffle in the neighborhood of Roca Fonda in Mataró where Lamine’s family lived. They signed up for the raffle to have their picture taken at the Camp Nou with a Barca player. And they won the raffle,” Monfort said. It wasn’t an easy assignment, he recalled, mainly because Messi wasn’t sure how to interact with baby Lamine, who was in a plastic tub for the shoot. “Messi is a pretty introverted guy, he’s shy,” Monfort said. “He was coming out of the locker room and suddenly he finds himself in another locker room with a plastic tub full of water and a baby in it. It was complicated. He didn’t even know how to hold him at first.” Messi was 20 at the time and already considered a big talent, but it would take a couple of years before he made his mark as the most outstanding player of his generation for Barcelona and Argentina. Sr. Division Football : Mohakhali Ekadosh beat Bangladesh Boys by 1-0 goal Like Messi, Yamal has gone through Barcelona’s renowned La Masia youth academy. Despite his age, he’s been one of Spain’s best players at Euro 2024, where his team will play France in the semifinals on Tuesday. Yamal will turn 17 on Saturday, the day before the final in Berlin. Monfort, 56, had no idea it was Yamal in those photos from 2007 until a friend messaged him as they started trending online. He’s had a long career as a sports photographer since 1991, following Barcelona around the world, but said he’s never experienced this level of excitement around any of his photos. “It’s very exciting to be associated with something that has caused such a sensation,” he said. “To tell you the truth it’s a very nice feeling.”

The football community was shaken on June 7 by the announcement that Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the all-time greats in the sport, will be joining Major League Soccer (MLS) and playing for Inter Miami CF following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain.  The Argentine football star is set to become the newest addition to the star-studded roster of Major League Soccer. Despite rumored offers from Saudi Arabia and a potential return to Barcelona, Messi has decided to make his way to Miami, Florida in the US, for the concluding phase of his illustrious career. Messi’s Contract and Salary Detail at Inter Miami Messi was earning an estimated $45 million per year (net) during his time in Paris. However, it’s important to note that MLS has a strict salary cap and roster regulations in place to prevent excessive contracts with individual players. As a result, the specific details of the deal Messi could potentially secure in MLS would be subject to these regulations. The terms of his contract would need to follow the salary cap and roster rules set by the league. Read Mission completed: Man City beats Inter Milan to end wait for first Champions League title  According to reports, Messi has reached an agreement on a two-and-a-half-year contract with Inter Miami, with the inclusion of a 12-month option for 2026. This complex agreement, reportedly involving contributions from Apple and Adidas, has been planned to facilitate the move, benefitting all parties involved in the long term. The contract entails Messi receiving a base salary along with additional bonuses. Messi’s contract is reportedly valued at around $125 million to $150 million. MLS sponsors Apple and Adidas are said to be working on agreements that will be tied to the revenue Messi generates as a prominent figure in the league.  Additionally, there is a possibility of Messi being granted an ownership stake, similar to the arrangement given to David Beckham when he joined MLS. Read more: No homecoming for Messi as Barcelona again fails to do enough to lure him back When is Messi’s First Match with Inter Miami? The specific date of Lionel Messi’s debut in MLS with Inter Miami CF has not been officially announced at the moment. Various reports suggest different dates, but it is widely believed that Messi’s proposed debut could take place on July 21. However, alternative timeframes such as “later in July, at the earliest” or even “August” have also been mentioned. The MLS regular season will end on October 21 and playoffs will start from October 25. And the final game is set to take place on December 9. So, Messi might get a few matches in the regular season. However, July 21 is a significant date as Inter Miami will host Mexican club Cruz Azul  for the Leagues Cup. Another date to keep an eye on is July 19, as it marks the grand unveiling event: the 2023 MLS All-Star Game at DC United’s Audi Field. On this occasion, the MLS All-Star XI will face English Premier League team Arsenal in the highly anticipated annual showcase match. If Messi is not participating in this game, it is highly likely that he will be introduced to a thrilled crowd during a prime-time presentation. Read more: Lionel Messi picks MLS's Inter Miami in a move that stuns soccer after exit from Paris Saint-Germain What Kind of Impact Can Messi Make? To begin with, Inter Miami is expanding DRV PNK Stadium by adding approximately 2,500 to 3,000 seats. This development indicates that the capacity will likely increase to 22,000 spectators. Moreover, Miami Freedom Park is set to debut in March 2025. Just envision the spectacle of opening night with Messi in the starting lineup.

Messi mania gripped Buenos Aires as the Argentina national team led by Lionel Messi beat Panama 2-0 on Thursday in a friendly match that was essentially a celebration of their World Cup victory last December. Although the world champions dominated the game, they didn’t get a goal until the 78th minute when Thiago Almada scored after a free kick by Messi hit the goal post. Ten minutes later, it was Messi’s turn and he scored the 800th goal of his professional career with a perfectly executed free kick. He is now one short of the 100-goal mark for the national squad. After the match, the celebrations got into full swing and Messi took center stage, smiling from ear to ear as he received awards and accolades. “I want to thank you for all the love we've been receiving . . . We told you we were going to do everything possible to win this,” a visibly emotional Messi said as he was handed the microphone. “Let’s enjoy this because we went a long time without winning it, and we don’t know when we’ll win it again.” When it was coach Lionel Scaloni’s turn to speak, the first thing he did was lead the packed stadium on a chant praising Messi. “Eternally grateful to this group of players,” Scaloni said as tears streamed down his face and he thanked fans for their support. The players’ families later joined them in the pitch and each of the players proceeded to lift a replica of the World Cup trophy in celebration. The players then walked around the pitch waving to fans as fireworks lit the night sky. Earlier in the day, news channels carried live images of the players traveling to the stadium with a police escort as excited fans waited to see the team's first game since it beat France in a thrilling final in Qatar. Outside the Monumental Stadium there was a party-like atmosphere from early in the afternoon as somebody impersonating Pope Francis blessed a World Cup replica, children almost universally donned Messi’s No. 10 jersey and street sellers hawked Messi dolls. Amid the celebrations there were also recriminations as many fans lamented they'd bought tickets for several times their face value from resellers that ended up being fake. The frustration led to scuffles with law enforcement officials who fired tear gas to disperse the angry fans. “This World Cup was a miracle,” Marcelo Saracho, 49, said while dressed up like the pope, an Argentine, but with his cheeks painted in the light blue and white colors of the national flag. Messi, the Paris Saint-Germain star who only last week was whistled by a group of fans of the French club that had been knocked out of the Champions League, received a massive ovation when he and his Argentina teammates entered the stadium filled with 83,000 fans. When the anthem played the cameras zoomed in on Messi, who looked to be holding back tears as fans sang along triumphantly. “I can’t believe I’m here,” Sofía Clavero, 12, said as her eyes welled up with tears while describing how she was eager to see her “idol” for the first time on the field. The match culminated a week in which Messi, 35, was widely celebrated as a hero after helping Argentina win its third World Cup title, a marked change for the player who once suffered the indifference and even apathy from many Argentina fans who blamed him for the team’s failings in previous championships. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Messi’s Records, Argentina’s Road to Victory It all started Monday night when hundreds of fans mobbed a steakhouse in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Palermo when word spread that Messi was inside having dinner. He needed a police escort to leave but was all smiles as people shouted “Messi I love you” and “Thank you, Leo.” The next day, a group of fans realized the car next to them on the highway was carrying the man who is often described as the world’s best soccer player. They immediately started shouting, “I love you, Messi!” and “Let’s go, Messi!” That’s when Messi proceeded to roll down his window and wave. The brief video of the encounter quickly went viral. On Wednesday, the hosts of a morning network TV show went wild when they received an audio message from Messi. “Good morning everyone,” Messi said in the message that the hosts huddled to hear. “I’m happy to be here, to enjoy everything we keep experiencing after what happened in December, and excited to enjoy tomorrow’s game.” To avoid any issues, the players were taken to the stadium six hours before the start of the match flanked by a security operation that involved dozens of law enforcement officers. Plans for the transfer had been kept under wraps to avoid a repeat of what happened in December when a celebratory open-top bus throughout the capital had to be cut short when millions of fans made it impossible for the vehicle to advance. Tickets to Thursday’s match sold out quickly but the game was just one chapter of the celebration that included local musicians and a trailer of a documentary about the World Cup-winning squad. The fan who wrote “Muchachos,” which became the unofficial anthem for the Argentina squad in Qatar, was also present. The party continues next Tuesday when the team will play another friendly match against Curaçao in Argentina’s central Santiago del Estero province.

Lionel Messi, often considered one of the greatest football players of all time, has once again been crowned The Best FIFA Men's Player award. This prestigious award, which recognizes the world's top footballer, was presented to Messi at a glitzy ceremony held in Paris. This is the second time that Messi has won the award after it got separated from the Ballon d’Or in 2016. The Argentine forward had an outstanding year, leading Argentina to the World Cup trophy, where he was also named the tournament's best player. A Brief History of The Best FIFA Men's Player Award The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award is an annual award presented by the world governing body of football, FIFA. It was established in 2016 as part of a revamp of the FIFA World Player of the Year prize, which was presented between 1991 to 2015. Initially, the FIFA awards were given to the world's best men's football players, while similar awards for both males and females were presented between 2001 and 2009. In 2010, the men's award was merged into the FIFA Ballon d'Or, while the women's award remained until 2015. After 2015, both men's and women's awards were integrated into The Best FIFA Football Awards. Read More: FIFA World Cup 2022: Messi’s Records, Argentina’s Road to Victory The award is presented to the player deemed to have performed the best in the previous calendar year, as determined by a voting process involving captains and head coaches of international teams, as well as journalists and fans. 25% of the total vote is held by each group. The inaugural winner of The Best FIFA Men's Player Award was Cristiano Ronaldo, who was then playing for Real Madrid. Ronaldo went on to win the award again in 2017, making him the only player to win it twice in the first three years of its existence. In 2018, Luka Modrić broke Ronaldo's streak by winning The Best FIFA Men's Player Award for the first time. After that, Messi won it in 2019. In 2020, Robert Lewandowski was awarded the title after an exceptional year with Bayern Munich. Read More: Messi voted best player at FIFA awards again Overview of Lionel Messi's Career in 2022 Messi passed a magical year in 2022. He appeared in 51 games for clubs and the national team. He scored 35 goals in total and had 35 assists. Among these 35 goals, he scored 17 goals for his club Paris Saint-Germain and 18 goals for Argentina. However, above all, his outstanding performance in the World Cup exceeds all his previous achievements. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Argentina's Lionel Messi had a tournament to remember. In the opening match against Saudi Arabia, Messi scored from the penalty spot in a 2–1 defeat. In the next match against Mexico, Messi scored a low 20-yard strike and recorded an assist on Enzo Fernández's goal in Argentina's 2–0 win. In the last 16 games versus Australia, Messi scored the opening goal of the game on his 1,000th senior career appearance, becoming the most-capped South American (CONMEBOL member) footballer of all time. He also surpassed and equaled several FIFA World Cup and national team records.  Read More: Ronaldo set to face PSG, Messi in first game in Saudi Arabia In the quarter-final against the Netherlands, Messi assisted the first goal for Nahuel Molina with a reverse pass before scoring a penalty as the game ended 2–2 after extra time, and Argentina won 4–3 in the penalty shootout. In the semi-final against Croatia, Messi made a record-equalling 25th World Cup finals appearance, drawing level with Germany's Lothar Matthäus, and scoring the opening goal with a penalty before assisting Julián Álvarez’s goal in a 3–0 win. With his 11th World Cup goal, Messi overtook Gabriel Batistuta to become Argentina's all-time top scorer at the World Cup. Messi then declared the final against France to be his last World Cup appearance. Read More: Argentine foreign minister will visit Dhaka late Feb, asked to bring Messi with him: Momen Lionel Messi Won the Best FIFA Men's Player Prize For 2022 In 2022, Lionel Messi was awarded the Best FIFA Men's Player prize, making him the third individual to receive the honor twice, following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo (2016, 2017) and Robert Lewandowski (2020, 2021). The last time Messi won The Best award was in 2019. Lionel Messi made history at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, becoming the sixth player to score in every knockout round of the world cup. His impressive performance included 7 goals and 3 assists, with his most impressive contribution coming during the final at Lusail, where he scored a brace. It was a remarkable achievement for Messi, who had never accomplished such a feat in his international career prior to Qatar. Kylian Mbappé was another contender for this award. Mbappé had 44 points, while Messi won The Best with 52 points. Voting for the FIFA The Best men's awards took into account performances from August 2021 to December 2022, with a particular emphasis on the FIFA men's World Cup, which ended in December of the same year. The award ceremony was designed to recognize the efforts of all participants throughout the world cup as well as the club, ensuring that everyone's accomplishments were acknowledged. Following is the resulting breakdown for The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2022. Rank Player Points Coaches Captains Media Fans 1. Lionel Messi (PSG / Argentina) 52 728 717 836 1,345,851 2. Kylian Mbappe (PSG / France) 44 478 395 433 391,676 3. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid / France) 34 230 301 304 200,009 Read More: Bruised Ronaldo scores twice to edge showdown with Messi Final Words Lionel Messi's technical skills, breathtaking goals, and exceptional performances have earned him worldwide acclaim, making him a true legend in the world of football. His remarkable goalscoring record, his ability to lead his team to victory, and his commitment to the game make him a truly deserving recipient of The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2022.

Grimacing in pain from his bruised cheekbone, Cristiano Ronaldo steadied himself before scoring from the penalty spot for his first goal in Saudi Arabia against a Paris Saint-Germain team featuring old foe Lionel Messi. Messi had already scored early in Thursday's exhibition game when Ronaldo was flattened boxing-match style by PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas after about 30 minutes in Riyadh, the city which gained sporting prominence for hosting a world heavyweight championship boxing bout in 2019. It wasn't Anthony Joshua but Navas who caught Ronaldo flush in the face with his forearm under a high ball. Read more: The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award 2022 Power Ranking Both went down like felled boxers. Ronaldo held his head, got back up, did a wide yawn as if to test his sore left cheek, and sent his former Real Madrid teammate Navas the wrong way. By the end of the first half Ronaldo's cheekbone was bright apple red but he was all smiles after netting his second goal, smashing in a rebound when his header came back off the post. Poking his tongue out, Ronaldo wheeled away in delight and was mobbed by teammates at the corner flag. When PSG star Kylian Mbappé checked on the state of Ronaldo’s cheek just before the second half, Ronaldo milked the attention from France's World Cup star and pointed to the red mark. Mbappé smiled at him as if to say “You’ll be fine” and Ronaldo raised his arm in triumph like a heavyweight champion. Messi’s Qatari-backed PSG won 5-4 against a combined XI of Saudi Arabian teams Al Nassr and Al Hilal, captained by Al Nassr’s new signing Ronaldo, in front of 68,000 fans at King Fahd International Stadium. Although his team lost, Ronaldo edged perhaps the final instalment of Ronaldo vs. Messi as one of the greatest rivalries in soccer history resumed in an unusual location. Messi's shot led to a handball and PSG's fourth goal, scored by Mbappé from the penalty spot. Ronaldo came off to a huge ovation just after the hour mark followed by Mbappé and Argentina's World Cup-winning star Messi, who was warmly hugged by countryman Marcelo Gallardo, coaching the combined Saudi Arabian team. Ronaldo’s bruise darkened with the night sky as he collected his man of the match award. He was locked in conversation with ex-Madrid teammates Sergio Ramos and Navas before the medal ceremony. Then he spoke to Portugal teammates Renato Sanches and Danilo, who play for PSG. But Ronaldo was nowhere near Messi, almost like they avoided each other. They couldn't do that earlier on the field, when Ronaldo tackled Messi in the second minute. Moments later, Messi smiled as he scored from Neymar’s lofted pass. Ronaldo looked annoyed with his teammates for letting Messi ghost into space. Harsh, because few defenders have ever tracked Messi’s runs, let alone stopped them. The World Cup proved that, if it was ever in doubt. There was scant interaction between former Madrid star Ronaldo and Messi, his arch rival during Barcelona's glory days. It was Ronaldo who tentatively approached an impassive-looking Messi at the center circle seconds before the whistle blew to start perhaps their final game as opponents. There was a polite exchange, the briefest handshake. Messi stared at Ronaldo late in the first half, after PSG defender Juan Bernat had been sent off, and Ronaldo seemed to look away from Messi. It was a different mood in the tunnel beforehand, when a grinning Ronaldo hugged Ramos, who now plays alongside Messi, and joked with Ramos that he’d forgotten to remove an ear stud. The laugh was on Ramos later, when he air-kicked a loose ball on Ronaldo’s second goal. PSG's Neymar also missed, from the penalty spot. Read more: Rashford scores again as Man United beat Man City 2-1 The atmosphere built before the start as fans waved Argentina flags while others held up the yellow jersey of Al Nassr, pointing proudly to Ronaldo’s No. 7 on the back. The ticker tape poured from the stands as Ronaldo led his team out. He smiled and winked when he got a loud ovation. Ronaldo could end his storied career in Riyadh after signing a deal worth a reported $200 million a year, swapping Europe’s elite club competition for the Asian Champions League. He makes his Saudi league debut for Al Nassr on Sunday against Ettifaq, far from the fields where he shone for Manchester United and Madrid. INTENSE RIVALRY The Messi-Ronaldo rivalry has been among the greatest ever. Between them they have 12 Ballon d’Or awards — Messi a record seven, Ronaldo five — and have won a combined 56 major trophies. Ronaldo won the Champions League five times, compared to Messi’s four. Messi is the all-time “El Clasico” top scorer with 26 goals for Barca, eight more than Ronaldo for Madrid. Ronaldo won the European Championship in 2016 but Messi was brilliant in Argentina’s Copa America win in 2021 and its 2022 World Cup success. Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer in men’s international soccer with 118 goals, while Messi’s seven at the World Cup took him to third overall with 98.

The FIFA Men’s Player Award is one of the most prestigious individual awards in the world of football. It is presented annually by FIFA to the best male football player of the year, recognizing outstanding skill, sportsmanship, and success on the field. The award has been presented since 1991 (formerly known as FIFA World Player of the Year) and rebranded in 2016 as The Best FIFA Men’s Player. It has become one of the most highly anticipated events on the football calendar. From the early days of George Weah and Zinedine Zidane to the recent domination of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the award has been given to some of the most iconic and talented players to grace the game. This year FIFA has released the Nominees for The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award 2022. Let’s explore the players’ power ranking. Nominees for The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2022 The award is a true testament to the excellence of the modern game and the players who inspire us with their performances. It is a celebration of the best of the best in football and a moment for fans to honor the players who make the game so special. This year 14 footballers got the nomination. Players Country Club Julián Álvarez Argentina Manchester City FC Jude Bellingham England BV Borussia 09 Dortmund Karim Benzema France Real Madrid CF Kevin De Bruyne Belgium Manchester City FC Erling Haaland Norway Manchester City FC Achraf Hakimi Morocco Paris Saint-Germain Robert Lewandowski Poland FC Barcelona Sadio Mané Senegal FC Bayern München Kylian Mbappé France Paris Saint-Germain Lionel Messi Argentina Paris Saint-Germain Luka Modrić Croatia Real Madrid CF Neymar Brazil Paris Saint-Germain Mohamed Salah Egypt Liverpool FC Vinícius Junior Brazil Real Madrid CF                   Read More: Ronaldo set to face PSG, Messi in first game in Saudi Arabia The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award 2022 Power Ranking After considering last year’s performance, some players will have a close competition, while Messi has a great chance of winning. The player is selected by a panel of international media members, coaches, and national team captains. The winner is determined through a combination of these votes and a public online poll. Let’s see the power ranking of the 2022 award. #1 Lionel Messi Argentine star Lionel Messi is top of the list after his great performance at the World Cup 2022. Lionel Messi is a phenomenon, having provided fans with many years of awe-inspiring football. His immense talent has finally been rewarded with the ultimate honor; a World Cup victory. He led the team to success with a series of goals and assists that amazed supporters in every corner of the world. The long wait is finally over. However, his club PSG’s elimination from the Champions League might be disappointing. But overall, it was an excellent year for Messi both in the national team and club with a total 51 appearances, 30 assists, and 35 goals. Besides, the winning of Trophée des Champions will put Messi forward in the award. Read More: FIFA World Cup 2022: Messi’s Records, Argentina’s Road to Victory #2 Kylian Mbappe The young French talent Mbappe just turned 24 last month, and he can look back on his incredible career so far with pride. As a one-time World Cup winner and a World Cup runner-up, Mbappe is confident that he will break even more records at the tournament in years to come. His ambition and talent are certain to continue to be a formidable force in the world of football. Kylian Mbappe put his name in the history books with a sensational hat trick in the World Cup 2022 final against Argentina. This incredible feat earned him the Golden Boot and capped off an impressive run at the tournament. The Paris Saint-Germain superstar was a standout performer on the world stage, further reinforcing his reputation as one of the best players of his generation. #3 Karim Benzema Although Karim Benzema missed the World Cup, his incredible performance for Real Madrid and France has put him on the nominees' list. Further, his Ballon d’Or winning is another factor in being eligible for this list. In 2021/2022, Karim Benzema achieved a remarkable feat - he won the La Liga, the Supercopa de Espana, and the Champions League titles with Real Madrid! This success is proof of the strength of his talent and commitment to the sport. It is a great accomplishment for him and for the team as a whole. Read More: Ronaldo joins Saudi Club Al Nassr: End of an Era in European Football #4 Kevin De Bruyne Widely recognized as one of the finest midfielders in the world, Kevin De Bruyne has earned his praises through his impressive long-range passes, assists, and deadly goal-scoring ability. The Manchester City star shines on the pitch and is a top contender for any awards that are up for grabs. However, at the World Cup 2022, Kevin De Bruyne was unable to prevent Belgium’s aging team from an early exit in the group stage. His performance was far from impressive, leaving many feeling disappointed. But his incredible performance for Manchester City made him listed in the FIFA Men’s Player award. #5 Robert Lewandowski At the peak of his career, Robert Lewandowski has become one of the most renowned strikers in the world. His impressive goal-scoring record is well known, and he is being widely discussed as a potential recipient of both the Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best awards. The 34-year-old Polish international has made a name for himself in the footballing world. But, he could not put much effort into the national team at the World Cup. It seemed that this could be the last time we see Robert Lewandowski at a World Cup, and he did not have the successful tournament he had hoped for. Despite this, he still managed to score two goals at a World Cup, which is an impressive accomplishment. But, his club performance in Bayern Munich and Barcelona keep him on the best players list. Read More: SAFF U-20 Women's Championship kicks off in Dhaka February 3 Final Words These five players are the top contenders. However, among all the players, Messi is surely ahead in the race. His performance was hugely influential in Argentina’s success, helping them to defeat France in the penalty shootout. This result will undoubtedly give Messi a significant edge in the race to win the Best FIFA Men’s Player award 2022.

Less than two weeks after his great rival Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo has completed a move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr and likely signalled the end of his career in elite club soccer. In agreeing a contract until 2025, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has ended speculation about his future after having his contract terminated by Manchester United last month. “I am fortunate that I have won everything I set out to win in European football and feel now that this is the right moment to share my experience in Asia,” Ronaldo said. Al Nassr described the deal as “history in the making,” however, it is likely to raise questions about Ronaldo’s ambition at this stage of his career. While Messi finally won the one major trophy that had evaded the two men widely regarded as the greatest players of their generation, after leading Argentina to the World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo will be playing outside of top level European soccer for the first time in his career. Media reports have claimed the 37-year-old Portugal international could earn up to $200 million a year from the move, but he will miss out on the chance to extend his record as the all-time leading scorer in the Champions League with his record currently standing at 140 goals. Messi is on 129 goals in the competition. Ronaldo is also unlikely to add to his Ballon d’Or collection - the trophy awarded to the best player in the world. Meanwhile, Messi will be among the favourites to win that trophy for an eighth time next year after his World Cup triumph. He also has the chance to win the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, having lifted European club soccer’s biggest prize on four occasions with Barcelona. Ronaldo won the Champions League five times during spells with United and Real Madrid. Six months ago Ronaldo wanted to join a team playing in the Champions League after United failed to qualify for this season’s competition. Read more: Cristiano Ronaldo bids adieu to the World Cup However, a move never materialized, with the most serious interest in him coming from an unnamed Saudi Arabian club. It is not known what other serious offers were made after he became a free agent last month, but the move to Al Nassr represents a significant step down compared to the level he has operated at throughout his career. Still it is a major coup for soccer in the Middle East and will add to the debate over Saudi Arabia’s attempts to use so-called “sportswashing” to improve its reputation internationally after its sovereign wealth fund led a buyout of Premier League club Newcastle United last year. “This is more than history in the making. This is a signing that will not only inspire our club to achieve even greater success but inspire our league, our nation and future generations, boys and girls to be the best version of themselves,” Al Nassr posted on social media. Ronaldo remains one of soccer’s biggest global icons, but the move comes at a time when he has faced questions over his ability to still produce his best form at the highest level. He managed just three goals for United in 16 games this season, with one of those coming from the penalty spot. He became the first male player to score in five World Cups with his penalty in Portugal’s 3-2 win against Ghana in Qatar, but ended the tournament having been dropped for his country’s last two games before going out to Morocco in the quarterfinals. By comparison Messi inspired Argentina’s third World Cup triumph, scoring seven goals, including two in the 4-2 penalty shootout win against France in the final after a 3-3 draw through extra time. Ronaldo and Messi have had their achievements compared throughout their careers. Messi’s World Cup win saw him emulate soccer greats Pele and Diego Maradona by lifting the sport’s biggest prize. Read more: Ronaldo's career at Manchester United may be over To many, it will also have given him the edge in his personal rivalry with Ronaldo. And at the age of 35, he still has time to further embellish his career in top level soccer. Meanwhile, Ronaldo has earned headlines in recent months for his antics away from the field. He was dropped and made to train away from United’s first team when refusing to come on as a substitute in a game against Tottenham in October. He then conducted an explosive interview with Piers Morgan in which he criticized manager Erik ten Hag and United’s owners the Glazer family. It led to the termination of his contract, his eventual move to Al Nassr and the next chapter of his career away from the glare of top flight European soccer.

Lionel Messi is not ready to walk away from Argentina yet, despite ending his pursuit of a World Cup winner's medal. The soccer great secured the one major trophy that has eluded him in his storied career as Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties in the final at Lusail Stadium on Sunday. The match finished 3-3 through extra time with Messi scoring twice and converting his penalty in the shootout. Read more: Messi wins World Cup to push claim to be soccer's GOAT At 35, this is likely his last appearance in soccer's biggest tournament, but he confirmed after the match that he intends to play on. “Obviously, I wanted to complete my career with this, (I) can’t ask for more,” Messi said. "Finishing my career this way is impressive. After this, what else? I have a Copa América, a World Cup. Almost at the very end. "I love soccer, what I do. I enjoy being part of the national team, the group. I want to enjoy a couple of more matches being a world champion.” Messi has won the Ballon d'Or award for the best player in the world on seven occasions. He has also won the Champions League four times with former club Barcelona, but the World Cup is the biggest prize in the sport. “If he wants to keep playing, he can be with us, he is more than entitled to decide if he wants to stay with us,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. “It’s a huge pleasure to coach him, everything that he transmits to his team is unparalleled. It’s something I’ve never seen before.” Read more: Messi's hometown of Rosario celebrates after World Cup win Messi put Argentina ahead from the penalty spot and played a part in Angel Di Maria’s goal that made it 2-0 after 36 minutes. Mbappé scored two goals in a 97-second span to take the game to extra time, Messi put Argentina back in front in the 108th minute, but Mbappe’s penalty in the 118th saw the Paris Saint-Germain star complete the first hat trick in a World Cup final in 56 years. “It’s just crazy that it became a reality this way. I craved for this so much. I knew God would bring this gift to me, I had the feeling that this (World Cup) was the one," Messi said. “It took so long, but here it is. We suffered a lot, but we managed to do it.”

After finally winning the World Cup, Lionel Messi made his strongest case yet to be considered soccer’s greatest player of all time. It will never be possible to say definitively, though, even after Argentina's 4-2 penalty shootout victory over France on Sunday in the final at Lusail Stadium. Messi has been his country's inspiration throughout the tournament in Qatar and scored twice in the game that finished 3-3 through extra time. Read more: Messi's hometown of Rosario celebrates after World Cup win “It’s just crazy that it became a reality this way," Messi said. "I craved for this so much. I knew God would bring this gift to me. I had the feeling that this was the one.” Kylian Mbappe certainly made Messi work for a golden trophy that had eluded him throughout his storied career. The France forward scored a hat trick as the defending champions came back from 2-0 down and then evened the match again after Messi made it 3-2 in extra time. But this was Messi's night and Messi's World Cup. “It took so long, but here it is," Messi said. “We suffered a lot, but we managed to do it.” For some, no one will ever surpass Pele, who won the World Cup three times with Brazil. Even in Messi’s homeland of Argentina, Diego Maradona remains, for many, the country's ultimate soccer icon after captaining the national team to the 1986 World Cup title. And for the past 15 years or so, Messi has had a personal rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo just to establish himself as the finest player of his generation. Competition is fierce when it comes to determining the greatest of all time, or the GOAT, as it has come to be known. It can come down to the smallest of margins that separate players of such brilliance. Messi’s failure to win the sport’s biggest prize has always counted against him when measuring his achievements against Pele and Maradona. The same goes for Ronaldo. Read more: Messi fulfils his destiny, Argentina win third World Cup Messi is a seven-time winner of the Ballon d'Or award for the best player in the world and lifted club soccer's biggest prize, the Champions League trophy, on four occasions. He ended his wait for a first major trophy with his country at last year’s Copa America. The World Cup, however, is the ultimate measure of greatness and Pele and Maradona secured immortality with inspirational performances on that stage. That had eluded Messi until Sunday. Yes, he was part of the Argentina team that lost to Germany 1-0 in the 2014 final, but the magic he produced game in, game out during his peak years for Barcelona never seemed to translate when wearing the blue and white stripes of his country. At 35 and nearing the end of his career, the tournament in Qatar was widely seen as his final shot at the World Cup. And if that is the case, he saved his best for last. Messi does not dominate over 90 minutes anymore, but instead decides matches with moments of genius. He scored seven goals in Qatar, but, arguably, his assists have been more memorable. Read more: Messi's 12th World Cup goal puts Argentina ahead of France His disguised pass for Nahuel Molina’s goal against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals was weighted and measured to perfection. His twisting and turning run to beat Croatia defender Joško Gvardiol and set up teammate Julian Alvarez in the semifinals felt like peak Messi, only in slow motion. He has now surpassed Pele with 13 goals at World Cups and is tied for fourth with Just Fontaine on the all-time list. His seven in this year's tournament surpassed Maradona’s five at the 1986 edition in Mexico. Messi has now scored a national team-record 98 goals in 172 games. That places him third in the all-time scoring list for men’s internationals, behind Cristiano Ronaldo (118) and Ali Daei (109). There has been a sense of destiny for Messi and Argentina, even after its shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in the team's opening game of the World Cup. Messi had to summon every bit of energy in his aging limbs to get Argentina through the final and hold off Mbappe. Leading 2-0 and cruising to the title as the game approached the last 10 minutes, Mbappe intervened to remind everyone that he has already overtaken Messi and Ronaldo as the best player in the world right now. He scored in the 80th and 81st minutes to turn the game upside down. When Messi put Argentina back in front in the 108th minute, he looked to have scored the winner. But Mbappe's penalty in the 118th saw the Paris Saint-Germain star complete the first hat trick in a World Cup final in 56 years. In the penalty shootout, Gonzalo Montiel scored the decisive kick to secure Messi's place among the pantheon of greats and, perhaps, confirm his position as the true GOAT.