Lionel Messi is the number 1 in world football according to Diario Marca’s “Top 100” list. The influential Madrid-based daily presented a ten-player shortlist to its readers, who chose the FC Barcelona star ahead of Real Madrid’s Luka Modric. Another publication, France Football, gave their prestigious Ballon d’Or award to Modric. Messi finished only fifth in their rankings.
Calling Messi the “clear winner,” Marca praised the Argentine’s 2018 thusly: “Messi has won the Golden Boot, is top scorer of the calendar year, won a league and cup double... he is simply the best in world football.”
Modric finished second, with Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann third. Juventus’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe rounded out the top five.
Messi, who won the domestic double with F. C. Barcelona – La Liga and Copa del Rey - in the 2017-18 season, would look to put an even better show in 2019 with hopes of winning another UCL title after seeing the previous few campaigns ending at the quarter-final stage.
Presently enjoying the winter break with his wife and kids in Argentina, Messi would resume club duty with Barca on Jan 7 when his team visits Getafe in the La Liga.
- Source: News websites
