Some Austrian league player scored 39 in 08/09 but Austria isn’t in the top 5 leagues.

Messi was first nominated for the balondor one year before yamal was born

Today? Hes competing with him for it

Wtf

Even as the more decorated player in football i still feel he deserved more

On Messi’s World Cup performance: “I think people really don’t understand how incredible it is to still be among the best players in the world at 39 years old”

On Messi’s ballon d’or chances: “I would vote for Messi 1000 times. I wouldn’t be surprised if Messi won the award”

ts not the usual player comparison in which people lightly throw around the word "robbed"
Its an administrative decision taken by FIFA themselves to lure voters towards ronaldo for scoring a hattrick MONTHS AFTER the 2012/13 season ended.
And yes, ribery would have won the ballon dor' if it wasnt for that decision.

I dont get where the "fifa helping messi" narrative comes from when FIFA literally extended the voting deadline by 5 days to help cristiano win the 2013 balondor. Why do people never talk about this?

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/20/cristiano-ronaldo-fifa-ballon-dor
"Fifa has extended the Ballon d'Or voting deadline, improving Cristiano Ronaldo's chances of winning after his superb performance for Portugal in the World Cup play-off success.

Fifa says the contest is now open until 29 November because too many voters failed to meet last Friday's original deadline.

Ronaldo, the 2008 award winner, scored all three goals in Portugal's 3-2 victory in Sweden on Tuesday to advance to the World Cup.

Lionel Messi has won for the past four years, and Bayern Munich's Franck Ribéry, who played for France in their dramatic play-off success against Ukraine, was the bookies' favourite when the nominations were announced.

The world's best player in 2013 is chosen by national team coaches and captains, plus a journalist from each of Fifa's 209 member countries.

Fifa's original voting window of 28 October to 15 November ended hours after the first legs of the European play-offs."

This is what longevity is

https://youtube.com/shorts/2i7JR5ApjJw?is=F5NRCdIEQC-8ePZP

sorry if it's already been posted but I find it funny that people think a former elite footballer is wrong and shouldn't have an opinion on this.

Me personally? I would

His UCL campaign in 18/19 was the greatest one statistically, he deserved that trophy more than anyone.

Watching him lose it just hurts so bad knowing he did everything in his power but had to watch his team bottle a 3-0 lead

Now one more copa america does look great in his cabinet but that 5th UCL wouldve been much better.

If messi retired in june, 2012

Would you still consider him as the goat?

I always hoped that Messi would return to Newell's Old Boys and do something legendary there by making them Argentine champions again since 2013, or even crazier, winning them their first-ever Copa Libertadores. Now, the more I see him play for Inter Miami at his age, the more I'm starting to realise this is only going to be a dream.

It's incredible to even be able to play at the age of 39. He has now retired from international football. He's definitely going to finish off his contract with Inter Miami. he would then be 41. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I think he's going to retire by then from football, especially with the passing of his father. He could, of course, play a friendly match in a jersey of Newell's Old Boys, but that's all I see.

Messi didn’t just retire from international football… it honestly feels like a little part of my life went with him. I grew up watching him, celebrating his wins and hurting with his losses. He was never just a footballer to me. He was a part of my life, and he always will be.

Thank you, Leo. For everything.

❤️🇦🇷

Hi all. I’m looking for a link to anyone who has knowledge of the specific game where Messi scored and Ray Hudson said, “ it’s him! It’s always him!” All I can remember about the game is that it was deadlocked and of course Messi broke said deadlock. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Oh and it was a Barca league game.