Lionel Messi is the only player to ever win both of these iconic awards originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. 2025 MLS season has been another chapter of record-breaking consistency from football’s most decorated player.

Lionel Messi proved his class once again when sending a heartfelt message to Argentina’s promising youngsters after seeing them suffer an agonising defeat to Morocco in the FIFA U20 World Cup final. The Albiceleste are the current holders of the global crown at senior level and had been hoping to capture another in the youth ranks.

Lionel Messi has contributed to more goals in the 2025 Major League Soccer season than 11 teams have scored in the league.

Kylian MbappéWhile he is following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappé is outperforming Lionel Messi, the FC Barcelona legend.At the start of this season, Kylian

Lionel Messi has announced the Messi Cup, which will feature players from Barcelona and Inter Miami, in December.

Fabio Cannavaro holds a strange Ballon d'Or Record that even Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi could never achieve. The defender spent most of his career in Italy, playing for Napoli, Inter Milan and Juventus, before moving to Real Madrid. His greatest moment came in 2006, when he captained Italy to World Cup glory.

Lionel Messi's bodyguard, Yassine Cheuko, showed off his insane takedown skills in a 1v1 challenge against YouTuber Jeremy Lynch. A former Navy SEAL and martial arts expert, he’s been by Messi’s side since the Argentine legend landed in Miami in 2023.

Team spirit shone beyond the pitch as women footballers at a residential training camp in Kerala's Thrissur joined forces to create an impressive tribute to football legend Lionel Messi — a giant mosaic made entirely out of football jerseys.