FIFA Boy Messi?

Undoubtedly Lionel Messi is one of the greatest players of all time, but his reputation and achievements are being questioned due to the decisions taken by FIFA and its directorial body.

On 28 November, list of nominated candidates for The Best FIFA Men‍‍`s Player was disclosed. To everyone’s shock Mo Salah or Lautaro Martinez weren‍‍`t named in that list, but more surprisingly Lionel Messi’s name was on it.

Considering a poor season at Major League Soccer and not being much effective for the national team Messi’s nomination has raised quite a few eyebrows.

On the other hand, Mohamed Salah and Lautaro had been performing great and also contributed towards their club and countries win despite that, they were not included in the list.

And this has further solidified the claims that Messi is favored by FIFA.

The Best FIFA Men‍‍`s Player award is given to the player who outperforms all the other players in a single calendar year, which is from August to August.

In this time period Messi has scored 25 goals for club and country and most of those he scored playing in MLS. Messi has won no major club trophies but won Copa America thanks to his team mates and Lautaro Martinez, as he (Messi) was not near his best, scoring only once in the whole tournament.

Compared to his performance, Mo Salah scored 25 goals in 23/24 season. Where he scored goals for Liverpool in English premiere league, FA Cup and Europa league.

Not only Mo Salah, Messi’s Argentine team mate the scorer of the Copa America Final, Lautaro Maritnez was also excluded from the list who had greater contribution in Argentina’s Copa win being the highest goals scorer of the tournament.

He was also the highest goal scorer for his club Inter Milan in 23/24 season.

Former Juventus CEO was disappointed at this decision and said, "It‍‍`s surprising and also disappointing to see that Lautaro Martinez was not nominated for the The Best Men‍‍`s Player by FIFA after the incredible season he had."

Also, comparison can be made with Cristiano Ronaldo who had scored 50 goals in 51 appearances in 23/24 season for club and country.

If Messi can get the nomination for The Best FIFA Men‍‍`s Player scoring 25 goals in 29 appearances in MLS, then Ronaldo who has had a wonderful season in terms of goals why wouldn’t he be nominated as he leaves Messi behind by a huge number.

Such questions were raised by many football pundits and fans.

Already netizens are criticizing this nomination. And some are mocking FIFA management saying, that according to them (FIFA) MLS is bigger and better and more competitive than EPL or Serie A.

As they left out Mo Salah and Lautaro Martinez from the list but did not hesitate to put Messi on it.

Many football players and managers have criticized the nomination of Messi in this years The Best FIFA Men‍‍`s Player.

Even when Messi was awarded The Best FIFA Men‍‍`s Player in 2023, it was clear that he wasn’t the most deserving player, players like Erling Haaland who scored goals in bulks and broke records, was put aside, despite his performance and numbers being much better and higher than Messi the award was given to Messi by FIFA.

Not only this, many questions were raised when FIFA President Gianni Infantino handed over the Club World Cup wild card to MLS despite the fact that they couldn’t win anything this season.

Clearly the deserving teams were put aside because of Messi and his viewership.

Big allegations have been put forward regarding that decision, and before it could cool down FIFA strikes once again with The Best FIFA Men‍‍`s Player nomination.

Many fans believe that the way FIFA is openly favoring Messi that is tarnishing his golden career as because of these controversial decisions questions will be raised on the other achievements of this legendary player.

Such decisions taken by FIFA are the reasons why Messi is labeled as the “FIFA BOY”.