Why another Ballon d'Or is surely on the cards for Messi

With three games to go in the European Championship and a further three in the Copa América to round off the season, of all the superstars who have apparently replaced Messi as the world's best player, none remain standing. Well, there's Neymar, but he wasn't even the top scorer in the French league this season.

Mbappé packed his bags after the quarter finals of the European Championship. Benzema, after winning no titles with Madrid this season, more of the same. De Bruyne had a disappointing Euro 2020, as did Lukaku. Haaland has been a revelation in terms of goalscoring, but no more than that. Cristiano Ronaldo only won the Copa de Italia. Messi? Well, Messi was the top scorer in LaLiga and also came second in the race for the European Golden Boot, which is nothing to be ashamed of. He also won the Copa del Rey, which isn't a lot, but that's easier said than done with the Barça of 2020-21.

If Argentina win the Copa América, it will undoubtedly go down as the Copa América of Messi, who has been the most impressive and decisive player so far in the tournament. If this is the case, what was supposed to be the season of his decline will end up being a very good season on an individual level. So much so, that he will end up winning the Ballon d'Or. And if not him, who else deserves it? As long as he wins the Copa América, of course.

CRACK ETERNO

This season, the titles have been won by teams rather than individuals. Chelsea won the Champions League. The European Championship will be similar. There's only the Copa América left, which works in Messi's favour.

At 34 years of age, Messi is still at the very top of world football. He's played a load of games and he's still fresh as a daisy. He's an eternal superstar. I asked earlier who deserves the Ballon d'Or more than him. Kane, if he leads England to the Euros? I'm not convinced. I don't see any stars in the Manchester City side. Perhaps Lewandowski, who won the Bundesliga and the European Golden Boot, and who was always going to struggle to do anything with Poland on the international stage. He was unfairly left without the Ballon d'Or last season after the trophy was declared null and void due to Covid, and perhaps this will have an impact on this year's award. He's the only other contender. But as much as it pains some, lots, or loads of people, Messi is right up there. And he's the best player in the world.