Lionel Messi has been nominated for the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Award. The player has been shortlisted for this award alongside Manchester City players Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland. However, soccer fans have questioned the World Cup winner’s eligibility for the award.
UEFA has come forward with an explanation for the real reason why Lionel Messi has been nominated in the top three for the prestigious award. The European board explained, “Though Messi starred for Paris and ended the season with his second Ligue 1 title, it was his exploits at the FIFA World Cup with Argentina that really caught the eye.”
✨ UEFA Men’s Player of the Year ✨
𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮/𝟮𝟯 𝗡𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗦
🇧🇪 De Bruyne
🇦🇷 Messi
🇳🇴 Haaland🏆 #UEFAawards winners announced at the #UCLdraw, 31 August 2023 🗓️ pic.twitter.com/onxVvNMLpi
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 17, 2023
Messi led his national team Argentina to World Cup glory for the first time since 1986. Furthermore, the player scored seven goals at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. However, he lost the Golden Boot to former teammate Kylian Mbappe as he fell short of one goal.
The 36-year-old won the World Cup trophy along with his second Ligue 1 trophy last season. It might not be the same as winning a treble, however, it is no less impressive.
Although his time at the French club was nothing compared to his success at Barcelona, he still maintained his brilliant stats. He was directly involved in 40 goals in 39 matches across all competitions last season for his former club, PSG.
Therefore, his impressive performance last season was enough for UEFA to consider him for the Men’s Player of the Year Award despite not playing in Europe anymore.
Lionel Messi captains his club Inter Miami to the Leagues Cup Final
The Inter Miami star has been in wonderful form since his debut at his new club. Messi maintained an amazing streak of scoring in all six matches he appeared in. Furthermore, the MLS side has also qualified for the Concacaf Champions Cup.
The former Barcelona star scored his ninth goal against Philadelphia, which led them to the Leagues Cup final. Therefore, the player’s impact on his new team has been commendable.
⚽️ Lionel Messi with ANOTHER goal and Inter Miami’s remarkable turnaround continues! ✨
✅ Through to the Leagues Cup final!
✅ Qualification for next season’s CONCACAF Champions Cup secured! pic.twitter.com/PqIMLel1w5
— MessivsRonaldo.app (@mvsrapp) August 16, 2023
His former Barcelona teammate Antoine Griezmann shared his thoughts on Messi’s incredible form in the United States. In an interview with ESPN, the French player shared, “I’ve been following him. Leo is the best in history, filling stadiums, scoring goals in all his games, he’s an incredible player. He’s the best thing the MLS has done for publicity. He is the image of soccer in the United States.”
The former Barcelona duo shared the pitch after the French player moved to Camp Nou in 2019 from Atletico Madrid. Griezmann, however, made a move back to his former club, Atletico Madrid, in 2021 after his time at the Catalan club.
