Messi had come second behind Ronaldo in 2016 and 2017. In 2018, the Barcelona superstar missed out to make it to the top three.
Lionel Messi. (Photo: Twitter/@FIFA)
Barcelona star striker Lionel Messi, who beat Cristiano Ronaldo and Virgil Van Dijk to win the FIFA Men’s Player of the year award, expressed the joy of having the award for the first time.
It is to note that the Argentine has won FIFA’s coveted individual award for the first time since it split from the Ballon d’Or and rebranded in 2016.
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“It has been a long time without winning an individual prize,” Messi told reporters, adding, “It is an award that I have for the first time and it is good to have it.”
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Messi had come second behind Ronaldo in 2016 and 2017. In 2018, the Barcelona superstar missed out to make it to the top three.
However, his focus is now on helping Barcelona improve their game in the ongoing La Liga season, where they have made their worst start in the Spanish league ever since 1994-95, collecting just seven points from five games.
Barcelona began their campaign with a 1-0 loss at Athletic Bilbao, but two 5-2 home wins against Real Betis and Valencia were offset by a 2-2 with Osasuna and a 2-0 defeat away to Granada.
“We’ve started badly and are struggling to create play and chances. It’s just the start, but we have to respond now,” Messi said, adding, “There’s no more time and we have to improve a lot, we’re aware of this. It’s a team thing. I have no doubts that we’ll improve.”
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