FIFA Best Player Award: And Kylian Mbappe Almost Upstaged Messi

By Cami Ezenwa

Was superlative Kylian Mbappe going to upstage team mate and another inspirational player, Lionel Messi to clinch this year’s FIFA Best Player Award for men.

This though must have stirred a lot of football minds even while Messi was being crowed, in the prestigious ceremony in Paris on Monday.

Yes, Messi by that feat beat his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema.

But did Messi really win? Many would answer with introspection, and they would be right..

It is in the sense that as much as the trophy went Messi’s way,  it has not in any way dimmed the sterling performances of Mbappe.

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Messi with the FIFA best player trophy

Those who hold this point do some kind of comparative analysis on the duo, from the perspectives of age, time played and league where they ply their trade, amongst others.

As a matter of fact, both had been highly prolific and valuable at both national and club levels in the recent, remaining the dominant figures in the games they starred.

How, for example, could France have fared in the 2018 World Cup where they triumphed over Croatia, without Mbappe.? In fact, what record would it have recorded in the last World Cup where it slugged it out in the finals with Argentina, where the 20 year old not fielded?

Could anyone imagine what would have been the colour of Argentina’ total dominance in the last World which it eventually won, at the expense of France without Messi?

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Here are two players who indeed, have what it takes to change the tide of games, be it club side or nation.

Mbappe: Superlative World Cup outings 2018 and 2022

The analysis that at his current age Mbappe’s goals for both his club side and the national team is 94, compared to Messi’s 50, and Ronaldo, another great’s 35, speaks volumes.

In other words, given more time, Mbappe may do better.

This might be true to the extent that among the young crop of promising players, not many at his age can be as dependable in delivering.

And also, the narrative that he is enjoying the best playing season of his time, is not just about personal accomplishments, but one that rubs off on the entire team.

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Already regarded as one of the best that the game can boast of, Mbappe may have much more to say in the future with his skills.

But for now, with the FIFA Best Player Award, greater accolades go to Lionel Messi, this being his second player. He also led his country to drinking from the World Cup last year, the first time in 36 years, in addition to a record seven Ballon d’Or awards.

“I achieved a dream I had been hoping for so long and finally I achieved it. It’s a dream for any player; very few people can achieve that and I was lucky enough to do so”, Messi told journalists at the ceremony Monday.