Lionel Messi is a major contender for the FIFA Ballon d'Or Award this year after his stellar displays for Argentina at the just concluded Copa America tournament. The latest Copa America tournament was held in Brazil thus making it two editions in a row on Brazilian soil. Unlike the last edition which ended in a semi-final exit to the host nation for Messi and Argentina, the Argentines were able to paid the hosts back in their own coin.
Argentina national team captain Messi had a phenomenal year until the start of the Copa America tournament on an individual level but he was not able to back it up with club success as Barcelona had to settle for just the Spanish Copa Del Rey title. The Catalans ran out of steam in the La Liga title race during the final set of games as theyfinished third behind arch rivals Real Madrid and champions Atletico Madrid on the final league table. Barcelona crashed out of the Champions League at the round of 16 stage to French giants Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and also lost the Spanish Super Cup final to Basque team Athletic Bilbao at the start of the year.
At the start of the Copa America tournament, Messi trailed players like Bayern Munich hitman Robert Lewandowski, PSG star KylianMbappe and Chelsea midfielder N'GoloKante in the race for the FIFA Ballon d'Or Award but a stellar campaign in Brazil has turned the little magician into the favourite for the award. Messi was almost unplayable as Argentina beat Brazil to lift a major trophy for the first time in almost three decades.
PSG attacker Angel Di Maria scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over the Brazilians. Messi didn't have his best game in that final against Brazil but he had done enough to win the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball Awards at the tournament thereby making him a big contender for the FIFA Ballon d'Or Award. Messi also had the most assists at the end of the tournament.
