After steering Argentina to World Cup glory in an epic final against Mbappé’s France last year in Qatar, Messi won the best player vote against Mbappé and Karim Benzema to secure the FIFA prize for the seventh time in 14 years.

Source: https://www.chroniclejournal.com/news/world/messi-and-putellas-voted-best-players-at-fifa-awards-again/article_6c003252-7fc6-5014-8e40-cdee6de4d3f9.html

Al Hilal also sought to sign Lionel Messi, with the Argentine great ultimately deciding to join Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/saudi-arabias-al-hilal-sign-portugal-midfielder-neves-wolves-3583641?cid=cna_flip_070214

All eyes were on Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest footballer of all time and who lifted the World Cup for Argentina in December.

Source: https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/soccer/world-soccer/messi-mania-reaches-fever-pitch-ahead-of-beijing-friendly/

And after going viral on social media, fans soon realised he was responsible for a very similar incident with Ronaldo’s long-time rival Messi at the 2022 World Cup, where Saudi shockingly beat eventual tournament winners Argentina 2-1.

Source: https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/saudi-albulayhi-cristiano-ronaldo-messi-31580528

And it arguably won the biggest victory in the sports streaming wars with its $2.5 billion MLS deal after Lionel Messi jumped to Inter Miami.

Source: https://fortune.com/2023/10/20/apple-reportedly-cancels-jon-stewart-apple-tv-show-the-problem/

Argentina great, Messi says relationship with Paris St-Germain fans ‘fractured’

Source: https://newmail-ng.com/imo-guber-court-reaffirms-ikechukwu-ukaegbu-as-lp-candidate/

Argentina legend Lionel Messi has had his statue unveiled by the South American Football Federation (CONMEBOL) following his remarkable achievements.

Source: https://www.completesports.com/messi-statue-to-stand-with-maradona-peles-at-conmebol-museum/

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates with the trophy in front of fans after winning the World Cup final.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/messi-chosen-as-best-footballer-of-2022-by-international-football-federation-history-and-statistics-mbappe-second-in-the-count-8361642/

Argentine legend, Lionel Messi has been shortlisted in the top three of the FIFA Best Player Award for the year…

Source: https://onlinenigeria.com/sports/309265-arsenal-vs-brentford-predictions-and-match-preview.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=arsenal-vs-brentford-predictions-and-match-preview

Argentinian soccer player Lionel Messi smiles during a match at Marcelo Bielsa stadium in Rosario, Argentina, Saturday, June 24, 2023.

Source: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230625-messi-recalls-massive-disappointment-of-psg-champions-league-woes

As he eluded the Orlando City backline, Messi stopped a pass from on his chest, dribbled a couple of yards near the edge of the 6-yard box and converted a shot that landed under the crossbar.

Source: https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/lionel-messi-scores-twice-in-inter-miamis-leagues-cup-win-over-orlando-city

“As I couldn’t buy a ticket for the game, I booked a room in the same hotel as Messi and was hoping to catch a glimpse of him.”

Source: https://guardian.ng/sport/messi-gets-superstars-welcome-in-china-ahead-of-australia-friendly/

Ask Americans who the most notable MLS players of the last two decades have been, and you’ll get responses including Zlatan Ibrahimović, Thierry Henry, David Beckham and now Lionel Messi.

Source: https://thehoya.com/reid-lionel-messi-represents-the-pattern-not-the-exception-the-problem-with-the-mls/

As many young footballers do, Minteh idolises Lionel Messi in trying to emulate his style of play on the pitch.

Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-summer-signing-hoping-emulate-28166805

Beckham, who co-owns the Major League Soccer hopefuls, managed to lure Messi, 36, to Florida in July following his exit from Paris Saint-Germain.

Source: https://thenationonlineng.net/beckham-wants-suarez-to-join-messi-at-miami/

But it feels like putting Messi on the bench for the World Cup final!”

Source: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/fury-after-bbc-strictly-bosses-27696900

But maybe Messi slowed the monsoon to a mere drizzle to allow the moment the soccer world awaited to arrive.

Source: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2023/07/16/dave-hyde-messi-is-here-so-rain-and-city-and-winless-streak-dont-really-matter/

But public fan adoration is nothing new for Messi, who's been one of the most famous athletes in the world for the last 15 years.

Source: https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/lionel-messi-takes-pictures-with-fans-while-shopping-at-miami-supermarket

But the ties to Ireland are more credible, Mac Allister confirmed it in an interview when he spoke about how Messi stopped team-mates calling him ‘Colo’, which is a derogatory Argentinian term for someone with red hair.

Source: https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/breaking-liverpool-mac-allister-transfer-30183004

But, with Messi looking increasingly likely to move to Saudi Arabia, Busquets looks set to join his former team-mate in the middle-east.

Source: https://metro.co.uk/2023/05/10/sergio-busquets-confirms-barcelona-exit-after-being-offered-70-paycut-deal-18759240/