Lionel Messi has won FIFA’s The Best Men’s Footballer in the World award for a record-extending seventh time in his illustrious career. The Argentine World Cup-winning captain beat off competition from Paris Saint-Germain teammate and World Cup Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe as well as Real Madrid’s Champions League winner and the reigning Ballon d’ Or holder Karim Benzema to win the top prize at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

Messi has now become the only player in history to win FIFA’s the Best award in three separate decades. However, in the current iteration of the award, which is called The Best since 2016, he picked up his second trophy, joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski. Messi had earlier won this prize in 2019.

Messi’s victory comes on the back of his incredible career-completing quest in Qatar. The 35-year-old led his side from the front and realised his greatest dream in football by winning the FIFA World Cup for Argentina, beating France on penalties in the final. Messi scored seven goals along the way and also went on the win the World Cup Golden Ball.

He has also been in fine form for PSG after a difficult start to life in Ligue 1. Across all competitions this season, Messi has scored 17 goals and has also assisted 15 times in 28 appearances and went on to remind everyone what an absurdly gifted footballer he continues to be despite being in the twilight of his career.

There was more glory for Argentina over the course of the night as they clean swept all the major men’s awards.

World Cup Golden Glove winner Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martinez who produced the stunning save off Randal Kolo Muani in the dying minutes of extra time in the final and also kept out two penalties to help Argentina win the World Cup won the award for the best goalkeeper in the world.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni, who has now won three major trophies in just two years with Argentina after taking over the national team as a caretaker with no previous experience, was recognised as the best men’s coach in the world ahead of Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti.

Barcelona and Spain’s Alexia Putellas won the Best Women’s Player in the World for the second time running, beating America’s Alex Morgan and England’s Beth Mead to the trophy. Find more information about the sports and betting world in Nextbet.