‘FIFA award loses credibility due to Messi’s absence’

While Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann said it was ‘bizarre’ that he did not make it in the top three of the Best FIFA Football Awards but for his teammate Filipe Luis, the award loses meaning if Lionel Messi is not winning it.

Griezmann had said it was ‘surprising’ that none of the French players, who won the World Cup were in the top three. He termed it as 'bizarre, and a shame’. Filipe Luis has a different reason for condemning the awards. He felt that if the best player in the world is not winning the award, then there is a question of how credible it is.

“The award is for the best player in the world. For me, today, it's Messi. Just like in previous years," he told Globoesporte .

“When he's not there, it loses credibility. It doesn't matter who wins the World Cup or the Champions League. He's the best."

Despite inspiring Barcelona to a domestic double of La Liga and the Copa del Rey in 2017-18, Messi was overlooked for the final three-man list in favour of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Mohamed Salah.

Messi was the top-scorer (45 goals) among the top five European Leagues. He was instrumental to Barcelona’s unbeaten league run of 36 games, which only came to an end when Messi was rested against Levante. However, what went against the Argentine was his country’s World Cup exit at the Round of 16 and Barca failing to make it past Roma in the quarterfinals of the Champions last season. All three of Ronaldo, Modric and Salah played in last year’s Champions League final while Modric also played the final of the World Cup with Croatia.

Source: Agencies