- The Argentine added the Ballon d’Or to three other accolades: FIFA The Best, Golden Shoe and Best Playmaker.
- No other player has ever claimed all four these awards in the same year.
- Moreover, nobody has managed to win both the Golden Shoe and Ballon d’Or at the same time.
Lionel Messi becomes the first player in the history of football to win FOUR major awards during the same year:
- France Football’s Ballon d’Or;
- FIFA The Best;
- European Golden Shoe;
- IFFHS World’s Best Playmaker.
Curiously, nobody managed to win all these awards at the same time even though there were times when the Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best used to be a combined prize.
Moreover, no other player has scooped BOTH Golden Shoe and Ballon d’Or in the same year. But Messi easily managed to win both prizes with 36 La Liga goals and domestic triumph.
Curiously, nobody managed to win all these awards at the same time even though there were times when the Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best used to be a combined prize.
In fact, last year’s winner Luka Modric came close to Messi’s record. The Croatian scooped three awards: FIFA The Best, IFFHS World’s Best Playmaker and Ballon d’Or. However, as a midfielder, he was clearly unable to win the Golden Shoe.
In total, Messi has won six Ballons d’Or, six Golden Shoes, six FIFA The Best awards four IFFHS World’s Best Playmaker accolades. He holds the record number of three out of four these awards. However, the Argentine is level with former teammate Xavi on the Best Playmaker wins.
Best player in the world, indeed? Relive the memories of Messi’s Ballon d’Or triumph on December 2:
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