How Real Madrid stars helped Messi win FIFA The Best Men’s player of the Year award

Lionel Messi's win of the FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year award in 2024 was significantly influenced by the votes of Real Madrid stars Luka Modric and Federico Valverde. 

Both players, in their roles as national team captains, cast their votes in favour of Messi.

This decision was not well-received by the Real Madrid fanbase, leading to criticism of Modric and Valverde.

Messi's victory in the award was primarily influenced by the votes of national team coaches, captains, and media representatives, where each voter selects three players who are then awarded points based on their position in the voter's list​​.

This award was a subject of intense interest, especially in terms of the votes cast by football captains for the top spot. Several high-profile players chose Messi as their first choice. Including Modric, who voted for Messi, Rodri, Marcelo Brozovic, and Valverde, who voted for Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland.

The Real Madrid stars were not alone in voting for Lionel Messi, as Premier League stars also heavily backed the Argentine maestro against one of their own.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, who is also Egypt’s captain, placed Messi first, with De Bruyne and Haaland as his next choices.

Virgil Van Dijk in his capacity as Netherlands’ captain also chose Messi, Haaland, and De Bruyne, while Scotland captain Andy Robertson voted in the same pattern.

Messi’s ex-Paris Saint Germain teammates Kylian Mbappe and Gianluigi Donarumma also picked him first, helping the cause for his third FIFA The Best Men’s Player of the Year award.