Another feather has been added to Lionel Messi’s crown. The FC Barcelona captain was named the Player of the Decade [2011-2020] by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).
IFFHS announced the top 10 players of the decade. Lionel Messi stands top, whereas Cristiano Ronaldo finished a close second. Three more former FC Barcelona player was in the list as well. Andres Iniesta was 3rd, Neymar 4th, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic was 9th. FC Barcelona’s rival Real Madrid has three players on the list as well. Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric in the list in 5th and 10th, respectively, apart from Cristiano Ronaldo’s runner-up finish.
The Argentine was voted as the best South American player of the last decade, accompanied by his former teammates Neymar and Dani Alves in the 2nd and 3rd place. Whereas Cristiano Ronaldo became the best European player of the last decade.
This is Lionel Messi’s 17th season for the senior team of FC Barcelona. He joined the club in 2001 in FC Barcelona’s famous youth academy ‘La Masia’.
In 2004, he was promoted to the senior team. On 16th October 2004, he made his debut against Espanyol at the age of 17. The Argentine came on as a sub in place of Portuguese legend Deco.
He is now holding the records of the most La Liga wins and goals for a Barcelona player, as well as the most titles.
It is always a debate who is the best player in Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s history. It is very tough to separate these two by stats. But this achievement will surely give an advantage to Lionel Messi in this debate.
