Perfect Year For La Pulga

Lionel Messi won the title of FIFA's best male player. (Photo: FIFA official website)

JAKARTA - Lionel Messi was named FIFA's Best Male Player on Tuesday, February 28, early morning WIB.

The Paris Saint-Germain star and the Argentine national team won the award for the second time. Messi beat team-mate Kylian Mbappe and last year's Ballon d'Or winner, Karim Benzema.

This award deserves Messi. Last year was perfect for the player nicknamed La Pulga.

With the time span between August 8, 2021 and December 18 last year, from the start of last season to the end of the World Cup, Messi achieved many achievements that were so proud.

The climax was when the 35-year-old ended the Argentine national team's 36-year wait to taste the World Cup trophy.

Using Opta data, Stats Perform considered last year to be the culmination of a Messi. Here's the review from Live Score:

Not everything has been sunny for Messi over the past 18 months. Barca's inability to renew their contracts caused Messi to leave Camp Nou to the Parc des Princes.

At his new club, he formed a lucrative front trio with Mbappe and Neymar.

But it took him some time to adjust to France. Messi finished the Ligue 1 2021-22 season with a record of only six goals.

It was his lowest tally in a league campaign since starting all at Barcelona in the 2005-06 season.

He only scored one goal in his first 12 Ligue 1 games. He was also a little less fortunate, hitting the post 11 times.

However, Messi finally finished with a contribution of 20 goals in France's top caste. Messi had more luck in the Champions League, scoring five goals in seven appearances.

The gloomy period of the previous season was quickly forgotten. This season is the point of La Pulga's revival.

Ahead of the World Cup, Messi has contributed directly to the creation of 25 goals (11 goals, 14 assists) in 18 appearances for PSG in all competitions. Not a single Messi goal came from the penalty spot.

The greatness then spread to the Argentine national team. Leading his country in the 2022 World Cup, Messi gave everything to complete a 36-year wait.

He wanted to end the criticism that was made earlier. Understandably, the appearance of the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner on the international stage is sometimes not in tune with the club.

After winning the Copa America in 2021, Messi ended all those criticisms in Qatar. He followed in the footsteps of the legend, Diego Maradona who led Argentina to win the 1986 World Cup.

Messi brought Albiceleste to glory at the World Cup.

The 35-year-old scored seven goals, including two in the final, and provided three assists to claim the Golden Ball award. Of course it wasn't the grand prize that meant the most to him.