Lionel Messi was awarded the FIFA Men’s best player award in Paris on Monday as he beat the likes of his PSG Siant-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid’s forward Karim Benzema.

Messi, who scored a brace in the final, led Argentina to glory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup as they had beaten France in the summit clash. La Pulga had scored seven goals and provided three assists in the quadrennial event as La Abliceleste ended their long wait of 36 years of winning the coveted World Cup trophy.

Messi was also awarded the Golden Ball award (Player of the tournament) for his exemplary performance in Qatar. After winning the World Cup, Messi was able to add the only prestigious trophy which was missing from his glittering cabinet.

“It’s amazing. It was a tremendous year and it is an honour for me to be here tonight and win this award,” said Messi, who sat next to Mbappe throughout the ceremony at the Salle Pleyel.

This is the second time when Messi has won this award, with his first coming back in 2019. Messi has also won record seven Ballon d’Or awards in his career.

Argentina’s number 10 gave his gratitude to coach Lionel Scaloni and his teammates after winning the award.

“I want to express my thanks to [coach Lionel] Scaloni and my teammates; without them I would not be here,” Messi added.

“I achieved a dream I had been hoping for so long and finally I achieved it. It’s a dream for any player; very few people can achieve that and I was lucky enough to do so.”

Messi has scored 16 goals in 27 games in all competitions this season, as well as registering 14 assists for PSG Saint-Germain.