Lionel Messi was crowned as the best male footballer on the planet on Monday (February 27) in Paris after winning the FIFA Best Award. Messi won the award for the second time since it’s inception in 2016, having also won the prize in 2019.
Messi is the third male footballer to win the elusive prize for the second time in his career after Cristiano Ronaldo (2016, 2017), and Robert Lewandowski (2020, 2021). Luka Modric also was crowned the winner of the prestigious award in 2018.
Following the announcement of Messi as the winner, it was his victory speech that caught the attention of fans. Messi had a hilarious message for his kids, as he asked them to go sleep having seen him receive the trophy.
“I want to send a kiss to my children, who are watching this, Thiago Mateo and Ciro, I love you…… now go to bed!,”said Messi in a video that went viral on social media.
Messi further hailed Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe for their brilliant season, as they were also nominated for the award also. The Argentina skipper who led his country to his first World Cup title in 36 years in December hailed his teammates and Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni, who won the best coach award.
“This is an honour for me. I want to thank my colleagues, including my manager Scaloni, and we’re here representing them all (the Argentina team), as we would not be here without them. It recognises the role they played in what we achieved,” said Messi.
“It’s been a crazy year for me. I have achieved my dream, after so much fighting, and so much determination to win it.Winning the World Cup is the most beautiful thing that has happened in my career. It’s a dream for many, but few can win it,” he added.
Messi has had a brilliant season for PSG so far too, having scored 12 goals and assisted as many in the League while also having four goals and assists each in the UEFA Champions League to his name.
