As Fifa was rolling out a familiar red carpet for Lionel Messi in Paris, from various corners of what the game’s governing body likes to call the “football family” there came garlands from clubs who would like to be part of his future.
Messi, to nobody’s surprise, collected Fifa’s The Best award for the finest male player of 2022 at Monday’s gala in the French capital and, as he greeted old friends and well-wishers, he could scarcely avoid questions about where he imagines he may be in six months time.
It had been a dream year, Messi told his audience on receiving his prize, one that will probably precede his winning an eighth Ballon d’Or, the sport’s more traditional marker of individual excellence, later this year.
He shared credit with his colleagues from the Argentina squad – “without them I wouldn’t be here” – for the vote-shaping World Cup triumph in December and namechecked two who were present in Paris, Lionel Scaloni, who had earlier picked up the prize for best coach, and Emi “Dibu” Martinez, named best goalkeeper.