Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi won his second FIFA The Best award as the last calendar year has treated the 35-year-old well since he lifted the 2022 World Cup.
Additionally, Messi has had a bounce-back second season in the French capital after a challenging first year which came off the heels of his departure from FC Barcelona in 2021.
“It’s wonderful,” Messi said (h/t Canal Supporters). “It’s a pleasure to be in such a list alongside Benzema and Kylian, who had a huge year. It’s an honor to get the award. I want to thank my teammates; some are here. Without this accomplishment, we would not be here.
“It’s a recognition for the whole group; this year has been crazy for me. I was able to fulfill my dream after fighting so hard. This is the best thing that has happened to me in my career.”
Messi and PSG hope his performance against Lille OSC, scoring the eventual game-winner, and Olympique de Marseille, registering two assists, can continue heading into the second leg contest against Bayern Munich on March 8 at Allianz Arena.
The future of Messi with the capital club also might hinge on how he performs and whether or not the squad overturns their 1-0 hole and advances to the quarterfinals.
Whether or not the Argentine stays or not, he has shown this 2022-23 season he can still play at the high level that many expect from him.
