While Lionel Messi may have missed out on winning this year’s FIFA The Best award he was still shown a bundle of support by those in the game.
Messi was looking to win the award for the third year in a row, however, Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr took home the prize after missing out on the Ballon d’Or.
The Argentine still managed to secure the MLS MVP award and has been showered with praise by former teammates in recent weeks.
Despite finishing sixth in the voting Messi still had his fair share of support which was led by US Men’s National coach and fellow Argentine Mauricio Pochettino.
Who voted for Lionel Messi?
Although Messi is likely to feel somewhat deflated by his sixth-place finish he did still finish above some of the biggest names in football including Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
At the age of 37, there are no signs of Messi’s powers diminishing having just scored 20 goals and adding 16 assists in this MLS regular season.
His efforts did not go unnoticed by some of football’s biggest names which also included former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Here’s a look at who voted Lionel Messi as their first choice:
- Players: Germain Hughes (Anguilla), Sohel Rana (Bangladesh), Arturo Vidal (Chile), Roy Krishna (Fiji), Liam Walker (Gibraltar), Gianluigi Donaruma (Italy), Bounphacan Bounkong (Laos), Sekhoane Moerane (Lesotho), Steve Borg (Malta), Andrew Stefano (Samoa), Javin Alick (Solomon Islands), Teaonui Tehau (Tahiti), Ali Abdi (Tunisia)
- Coaches: Lionel Scaloni (Argentina), Koji Gyotoku (Cambodia), Ricardo Gareca (Chile), Nestor Lorenzo (Colombia), Tuka Tisam (Cook Islands), Marcelo Neveleff (Dominican Republic), Sebastian Beccacece (Ecuador), Sherman Rob (Fiji), Yong Nam Sin (Korea DPR), Juan Antonio Pizzi Torroja (Kuwait), Pau Marti Vincente (Malaysia), Javier Aguirre (Mexico), Myo Hlaing Win (Myanmar), Augustine Owen Eguavoen (Nigeria), Kilifi Solia Uele (Tonga), Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay), Mauricio Pochettino (USA), Sang Sik Kim (Vietnam)
- Media: Emmanuel Kaba (Congo), Vaelei Von Dincklage (Samoa), Suahills Dende (Sao Tome and Principe)
It’s clear to see from the votes that Messi is still loved and cherished in every corner of the globe. He is truly a world icon.
- Read more: Lionel Messi’s MLS MVP win helped extend rarely mentioned record, only Cristiano Ronaldo comes close
Fans react to Messi’s broken streak
While Messi was looking to win the Best Award for a third year in a row it wasn’t to be for the serial winner.
Finishing in a respectable sixth place many fans jumped to the defence of the star.
One said: “If Messi actually cared about winning this award he might have won it again.”
Another commented: “Wouldn’t expect less from Messi. Pretty concerning for Haaland and Mbappe, they were supposed to take the generational mantle.”
One more fan said: “The goat must be recognized.”
Now that awards season is over, Messi will have his head back in the game ready to deliver for Inter Miami in their much anticipated MLS season.