Lionel Messi may have had a stellar career and been the world’s best player for many illustrious years, but at 37, does he still genuinely merit being nominated by FIFA for their Best Player award or has the organisation thrown his name into the hat just to make sure they have all bases covered

Eyebrows have been raised after Messi was mom for 2024 FIFA Men's Award

Messi was one of 11 nominees for the honour alongside Dani Carvajal, Erling Haaland, Federico Valverde, Florian Wirtz, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Rodri, Toni Kroos and Vinicius Jr.

Messi was the only one who was not shortlisted for football's most prestigious individual honour, marking the first time he had not been nominated since 2005.

Messi’s Inter Miami have squeezed through the back door into next summer’s Club World Cup, Gianni Infantino’s pet project, so maybe FIFA are keen to keep his name up in lights based on past record and reputation.

It’s worth recalling that Messi wasn’t even in the top 30 shortlist for the equally if not more prestigious Ballon d’Or shortlist but has somehow made it into FIFA’s. He is however a long time FIFA favourite, having won the Best award in 2019, 2022 and 2023.

The Argentina and Barcelona legend is seeing out his career in Major League Soccer and is the only player not based in Europe included on the shortlist.

Messi has been accused of being Favourites reason for his nominations and  the awards he has won so far.

He may have scored 20 goals as Inter Miami won the Eastern Conference but was on the losing side in the MLS Cup play-offs as Atlanta United pulled off a surprise result.

But his long-term rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, who in 2023-24 scored 50 goals scored in 51 games for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, doesn’t make the FIFA shortlist.  There is also no place for Egypt’s in-form Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah.

FIFA’s determination to include him in their competitions was nevertheless demonstrated when they rewarded Inter Miami’s regular season success with a spot at the expanded Club World Cup, delivering a snub to both Western Conference champions LAFC and whoever is eventually crowned MLS Cup champions on December 7.

According to FIFA, the nominees were chosen on how they performed from August 21 last year to August 10 this year.

The winners of the awards will be revealed at a ceremony in January 2025.