Where next for Lionel Messi as he is crowned world's best player?

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.

Also in the auditorium were a number of representatives from Messi’s club, Paris Saint-Germain, including the president and the runner-up in Messi’s category, his striking partner at PSG, Kylian Mbappe.

In what was a brief acceptance speech, Messi concentrated on Argentina. He made no mention of winning the last Ligue 1 title with PSG, an achievement from within the period covered by the Fifa award.

That perceived omission – and Messi may simply have focused on the World Cup because the ceremony was a Fifa event – was noted in some of the places that aspire to make a new home for Messi when his current contract with PSG expires in the summer.

Talks have taken place on prolonging his stay with the