Lionel Messi is no longer the best in the world but he still deserves one last Ballon d’Or

For the eighth and doubtless last time, Lionel Messi will win the Ballon d’Or tonight. Messi will beat competitors from Manchester City’s treble-winners, an inevitable consequence after he impressed Argentina to their first World Cup since Diego Maradona did the similar in 1986. The betting has stopped, and the solely thriller left at the Paris ceremony is to guess the cloth of his go well with.

Messi’s journey might be advised in soccer and in style decisions. He collected his first Ballon d’Or in 2009 carrying a primary black go well with and tie, trying like a boy at the college promenade, and with every passing 12 months his apparel grew to become extra daring: the bow tie and tux in 2010, the velvet sheen in 2011 and the garish polka dots in 2012 symbolising the blooming confidence of a younger man who might do no improper, who might take a hideous go well with like a foul move and switch it into one thing nice, or a minimum of barely much less hideous, by dint of his personal brilliance.

Things obtained somewhat out of hand in 2013 when he wore a full purple ensemble, an outfit which, in hindsight, didn’t need to win. Messi was crushed by Cristiano Ronaldo two years in a row, and when he lastly resumed his throne in 2015, he did so again in a traditional black tuxedo. In 2019, Messi’s easy gray tie was a suitably sombre look to finish his four-year winless drought, earlier than the shimmering sparkles of 2021 which lit him up like a galaxy as he claimed No 7.

Through the years, Messi modified on the pitch too. He added layers to his expertise. It is straightforward to overlook now that initially he was not a prolific goalscorer, but quite a slippery eel who might rating targets. His 2007 dribble towards Getafe was typical of early Messi, weaving an unattainable thread from his personal half to the opposition’s field in a mirror picture of Maradona’s iconic aim towards England.

Then got here the targets, the sheer unfathomable amount of them, so many who his title was falling off the finish of scoring charts, his season information overflowing with little ball symbols overlapping one one other with every new hat-trick.

And quickly he wasn’t simply the best dribbler and the best goalscorer in the world, but the best creator too. This ingredient of his recreation grew by way of his profession: Messi’s goalscoring peaked got here in 2011-12 (1.19 per recreation in all competitions), but his help charge stored rising till 2019-20 (0.57 per recreation).

He was the 9, 10, and 11 who might run the recreation at 6 too, when he fancied it. He could possibly be each an unstoppable particular person expertise and a part of a functioning, flowing trio with Luis Suarez and Neymar in these golden years at Barcelona after they delivered the treble. He might shoot but he might serve too: Messi will probably be the solely participant in historical past to attain 900 targets and still look unselfish.

He by no means stopped evolving. He taught himself to turn out to be a grasp of free-kicks, scoring that approach in three successive La Liga video games in 2018-19, the similar season in which he scored two in the similar match towards Espanyol.

Then got here the essential items of his legacy: the 2021 Copa America, relieving years of burden after failing for Argentina; the 2022 World Cup, ending the notion that he might by no means match Maradona; and now, an eighth Ballon d’Or. An particular person trophy shouldn’t outline a footballer and but it is unattainable to disregard how Messi’s profession has been framed by this award, by his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, how they performed on the next airplane than the relaxation and but Messi climbed increased still, into the clouds.

Does he deserve this newest prize? There are loads of social media accounts (often with a flexing Ronaldo in their profile image) that can inform you Fifa has rigged the Ballon d’Or vote to go well with its agenda. Messi, they are saying, is soccer’s advertising and marketing money cow and the recreation is geared in direction of his success. An identical principle was proffered by Dutch supervisor Louis van Gaal just lately, who instructed the World Cup was “premeditated” for Messi to win.

Certainly, you might conclude that Messi is not the best participant in the world any extra. On 12-month type it could be Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland. On this season’s type it’s in all probability Jude Bellingham. Yet the Ballon d’Or is ashamedly wedded to the gamers who determine the largest prizes, and no one had the affect on the future of the World Cup like Messi. The essential aim towards Mexico that sparked his crew to life, the magic towards Australia, the fury towards Netherlands, the twisting dribble towards Croatia, and the remaining deliverance: Argentina wouldn’t have received with out Messi. It was a World Cup received as a lot by his aura as his presents with the ball, and this accomplished one last evolution – Messi the figurehead.

There is still somewhat extra to do. He will attempt to win the MLS Cup over the subsequent couple of years, simply as David Beckham did twice; he will captain Argentina in subsequent June’s Copa America.

But this appears like the finish of one thing. Now taking part in in the US, it is certainly his last time standing up right here, in sharp gown, holding a golden orb. Messi has accomplished soccer, and now he has extra Ballons d’Or than anybody may ever win. Haaland and Mbappe will probably be 24 and 25 when one of them maybe wins their first subsequent 12 months. They are unlikely to succeed in eight and perhaps no males’s participant ever will. There have been many ‘end of an era’ moments in Messi and Ronaldo’s gradual shuffle offscreen, but this feels the most clear-cut. Messi’s journey appears full. No extra shiny fits. The stage is empty now.