“Having watched Lionel Messi play for almost two decades is an incredible privilege. Each moment has been beautiful, exciting, and mesmerizing. He is a gift from the football gods. I am thrilled to see him lift our sport’s highest award. Gracias y felicidades, champion.”
Former Barcelona striker Gary Lineker has always been a staunch supporter and defender of Messi, to the extent that some criticism has accused him of bias in BBC Sport broadcasts. However, his tribute to Argentina’s captain after the World Cup final on social media was perfect.
It was impossible not to be moved when seeing Messi lift the only trophy he had longed for in Qatar. He had fallen short with Argentina in the 2014 final, and since his debut in 2005 with long hair, he had struggled under the weight of great expectations on the international stage.
Messi’s incredible performances over his 21-year career at Barcelona earned him seven Ballon d’Or titles, along with numerous La Liga and Champions League championships. However, doubts persisted about whether he deserved to be considered the greatest player of all time due to his struggles in the World Cup.
All doubts were finally erased in the 2022 World Cup when Messi led the Argentine national team to victory in the Middle East. Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, was fortunate to have an excellent squad, with key contributions from players like Angel Di Maria, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Cristian Romero, and the outstanding goalkeeper Emi Martinez.
But it was Messi who inspired the team. He continuously provided moments of brilliance to create scoring opportunities or finish games and kept the team together during tough times.
It was astonishing to watch him unleash his creative talents and joyfully embrace the greatest achievement of his career when it was all over. Messi had completed his football journey and almost assuredly secured his eighth Ballon d’Or.
Erling Haaland fully deserved to contend for the 2023 award after leading Manchester City to a treble in his debut season at Etihad, and this was further bolstered by Messi’s inability to enjoy similar success at Paris Saint-Germain.
However, the reality is that there is no comparison between these two men in terms of individual performance. Messi once again became the world’s best player in the 2022-2023 season, as outlined below by GOAL…
Messi had a magnificent World Cup Messi scored seven goals at the 2022 World Cup, just one behind Kylian Mbappe, who won the Golden Boot. He finished the tournament with the highest number of assists (3) and key passes (21), as well as the most shots on target (13) of any player.
The former PSG and Barcelona forward also became the first player in World Cup history to score in the group stage, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final of the same tournament, while also winning five Player of the Match awards.
When it came time to award the Golden Boot for the best player of the Qatar tournament, there was only one winner. Messi is now the only player to have won this award twice, having also been recognized for his impressive performances at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Messi participated in five World Cups, and no one can match his overall contribution to goals, with 13 goals and eight assists. He is also the player with the most appearances in the tournament with 26 matches, one more than German legend Lothar Matthaus. Only three players have scored more goals than Messi in World Cup history – Miroslav Klose (16), Ronaldo Nazario (15), and Gerd Muller (14).
Previously, Diego Maradona was the celebrated hero of the 1986 World Cup victory and was widely admired in Argentina. However, Messi no longer lives in Maradona’s shadow, and the statistics prove that he deserves to be considered one of the greatest players to ever grace the international football stage.
“He is an incredibly important player for us,” Scaloni said about Messi during Argentina’s World Cup final celebration at Lusail Stadium. “Having him as our captain is a tremendous joy. Everything he conveys to his teammates is incomparable – something I’ve never seen before.”
Messi didn’t just lead by example with his performances in Qatar; he demanded that each player in the team reach their highest standards. As he did in Argentina’s 2021 Copa America campaign, Messi demonstrated all the qualities fitting of a truly outstanding captain.
He appeared obsessed from the very first match, opening the scoring from the penalty spot in La Albiceleste’s group-stage clash with Saudi Arabia. He made almost no mistakes afterward, but Scaloni’s side was caught out twice.
Saudi Arabia produced a miraculous second-half comeback to beat Argentina 2-1 in one of the most thrilling and astonishing matches in World Cup history, and critics were poised to pounce. South America’s giants also looked shaky in the first 60 minutes of their second game against Mexico, a match that appeared to be heading for a draw.
But then, Messi produced a brilliant touch to create a shooting opportunity after receiving a pass from Di Maria about 20 yards from goal. Without looking up, he placed a shot into the bottom right corner with pinpoint accuracy – and Argentina had a favorable start.
They continued with a 2-0 win in that match as Fernandez finished off Mexico with a brilliant solo strike, and they looked like a completely different team in the final group game against Poland. Argentina won that encounter by the same score, even though Messi missed a penalty – but he was the standout player, completing more dribbles than anyone else on the field, taking more shots, and creating more chances.
Next came Australia in the round of 16, and Messi once again took center stage on his 1000th career appearance. He opened the scoring with a trademark finish in the 35th minute and dominated the game in the second half as Argentina comfortably won 2-1.
“After the final whistle, Messi looked like a ghost,” Australian midfielder Keanu Baccus said when asked about Messi’s impact after the match. “It’s unbelievable how good he actually is and how he observes and participates in the game.”
But the best was yet to come.
Argentina, nicknamed Albiceleste, faced a stronger opponent in the quarterfinals with the Netherlands, but they raised their game. Messi set up Nahuel Molina to score and give Argentina the lead at the end of the first half, providing a delicate pass for his teammate to penetrate the penalty area and score. He then scored a penalty to make it 2-0, but the Netherlands came back with a magnificent brace from Wout Weghorst, forcing a penalty shootout.
Argentina regained their composure to overcome the Netherlands in the shootout, with Messi displaying nerves of steel by scoring his second penalty of the match. After the victory, he showed his unwavering resolve by raising his hands to his ears in front of Louis van Gaal, responding strongly to the coach’s pre-match statement that he would be easy to stop.
At this point, Messi had silenced those who had accused him of not shining for Argentina at the World Cup. But his most impressive contribution came in the semifinal against Croatia.
Scaloni saw his team play at their peak in a convincing 3-0 win, with Messi opening the scoring from another penalty before Julian Alvarez netted a brace. Messi also set up Alvarez’s second goal, humiliating Josko Gvardiol on the right-wing.
Initially, Messi outmaneuvered Gvardiol with incredible ball control in midfield, but the Croatian defender had the speed to catch up with him. Gvardiol pushed Messi wide with the goalkeeping imminent, but Messi cleverly used his technique to shake him off before advancing towards the byline and providing a pass for Alvarez to easily score.
Control, awareness, quick thinking, and execution. Messi has no equal when combining these elements, even as he entered middle age.
Croatia’s captain, Luka Modric, acknowledged Messi’s excellence in a respectful statement after the match, saying, “I hope Lionel Messi wins this World Cup; he is the greatest player in history and he deserves it.”
With such an impressive victory, Argentina deservedly became the top contenders in the final against France, and they proved it with a brilliant performance in the first half. Goals from Messi and Di Maria gave Argentina a 2-0 lead at halftime, forcing France’s coach, Didier Deschamps, to change tactics.
France completely turned things around in the second half, and Kylian Mbappe scored two goals in just two minutes, pushing the game into extra time. However, Messi remained determined and scored from close range in the 108th minute, reversing the situation for Argentina.
He played exceptionally well in extra time, and if Lautaro Martinez had been more clinical, Argentina could have won before the final whistle. But they paid the price for missed opportunities when Mbappe scored his second penalty, leading to a penalty shootout.
Messi was the first to step up and take the penalty for Argentina, and he looked very composed as he placed the ball past Hugo Lloris into the net. The captain’s calmness spread to his teammates as Albiceleste won 4-2 in the penalty shootout, with Gonzalo Montiel scoring the decisive goal.
Some players rushed to celebrate with Montiel, but most of the Argentina players embraced Messi as he sat down on the pitch and cried in the center circle. The 2022 World Cup belonged to Messi.
What He Achieved at PSG Messi had an impressive run of performances before the World Cup, finally winning over the PSG fans with a series of winning displays. His first season at Parc des Princes after leaving Barcelona was a major disappointment, but he found his best form in the first half of the 2022-2023 season.
The PSG star scored 12 goals in all competitions and provided 14 more assists – more than any other player in Europe’s top leagues. Messi was also the most dangerous player on the continent, averaging 1.2 involvements in expected goals per game in non-penalty situations.
Christophe Galtier allowed Messi the freedom to operate behind PSG’s forwards after being appointed as the head coach, and this immediately yielded results. He finally gelled with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, and the French national champions began to emerge as genuine contenders for the Champions League.
Unfortunately, the international break during the season disrupted PSG’s progress. Messi was given additional time off to celebrate Argentina’s World Cup success in his homeland, and he didn’t look fully fit upon his return.
Subsequently, PSG saw Neymar suffer another severe injury before the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich. Galtier’s team was eliminated with a 0-3 aggregate scoreline in Neymar’s absence, and fans later blamed Neymar and Messi for the club’s latest European failure.
Protests followed in the ensuing weeks, and despite PSG successfully defending their Ligue 1 title, the season was considered a failure. It came as no surprise when Messi decided not to extend his contract, as he had never truly integrated on and off the pitch in the city of Paris.
However, the truth is that Messi ended his final season at PSG with 21 goals and 20 assists from 41 appearances across all competitions. Only Mohamed Salah, Mbappe, and Haaland of Liverpool contributed more to goals in Europe’s major competitions.
Even at the age of 36, Messi remains among the top stars. Even with his surprising move to Inter Miami, he scored 11 goals in his first 11 games for the MLS team.
The only realistic challenger to Messi for the 2023 Golden Ball is Haaland, who became one of the few players to transition easily from the Bundesliga to the Premier League in the previous season.
The former Borussia Dortmund striker proved to be a steal at £52 million ($41 million), breaking the Premier League record for goals in a season with 36. Haaland also scored 12 goals in Man City’s journey to winning the Champions League, three goals in the FA Cup, and one in the Carabao Cup.
Pep Guardiola’s Man City was already a dominant force in England before Haaland’s arrival, but he elevated them to new heights and helped them secure the coveted Champions League title. The Norwegian player, who was recently voted PFA Men’s Player of the Year and UEFA Men’s Player of the Year, deserved all the praise.
But unlike Messi, he didn’t make the difference in the most crucial matches. Haaland only scored one goal in the last eight games of the season and didn’t score in either the Champions League or FA Cup finals. The 22-year-old also failed to score in the semifinals of both competitions. And with fewer goals from Haaland, he was scrutinized for his lack of involvement in Man City’s overall attacking play.
This towering forward averaged only 24.8 touches and 11.7 passes per game in the previous season. Man City often controlled the pace of games without needing Haaland’s contributions.
In contrast, Messi is a rare footballer who can single-handedly win matches. Haaland is a physically strong player with top instincts in front of the goal and the ability to make intelligent runs, but his overall game still requires more refinement.
Man City doesn’t rely on Haaland to bail them out in tough situations or change the course of a game with a bold piece of skill. He was bought with the aim of scoring goals, and he did that better than anyone else.
But he shouldn’t be mentioned in the same breath as Messi. Argentina became world champions because of him, and that alone makes him worthy of an eighth Golden Ball.
When asked who should win the 2023 Golden Ball, former Argentina and Inter defender Javier Zanetti said on Planetwin365 in June, “I think Messi deserves it because he fulfilled his dream of winning the World Cup and was a key figure. In my opinion, he’s been the best for many years.”
Recent history shows that an outstanding World Cup often increases a player’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or. Former French star Zinedine Zidane, Brazilian legend Ronaldo, and former Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro all received this accolade after leading their national teams to tournament victories from 1998 to 2006.
Even Modric won the Ballon d’Or in 2018 despite being part of the Croatian team that lost to France in their first-ever World Cup final. This tournament holds more significance than any other, which is why there shouldn’t be any rumors of a conspiracy if Messi indeed adds another Ballon d’Or to his collection.
There will always be those trying to diminish Messi’s greatness, perhaps out of allegiance to his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo or to bolster the reputation of a bygone era when Maradona and Pele led the way. But he put an end to the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate once and for all with his achievements in Qatar. Messi raised the standard for excellence in a single World Cup, and it’s possible he may never be surpassed.
The impressive numbers of the Argentine superstar in PSG’s jersey are just a reward. The decision about the Ballon d’Or has become a race ever since he hoisted the famous golden trophy on the night of December 18, 2022.
However, he has never cared about personal recognition. “Is the Ballon d’Or important to me? No, it’s not important to me anymore,” Messi recently told Chinese news outlet Titan Sports. “I’ve always said that individual awards are not important to me, but team awards are the most important.”
Messi may not even notice if Haaland stands on stage with the Ballon d’Or in hand at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris on October 30. But such a scenario wouldn’t be good for football. The Ballon d’Or should always belong to the best player on the planet, and currently, that is Messi.
