Lionel Messi's top vote for The Best FIFA Men's Player revealed - and it wasn't Vinicius Junior OR Rodri

The FIFA Best award ceremony, held in Doha on Tuesday, crowned Vinicius as the winner, recognising his pivotal contributions to Real Madrid’s La Liga title and Champions League triumph in 2023-24. The Real Madrid star was pipped to the Ballon d'Or earlier this year by Rodri, but Vinicius came out on top in the FIFA awards by amassing 48 points to the City midfielder's 43.

National team coaches, captains, and imminent media personalities across the globe took part in the voting process and as captain of the Argentina national team, Messi’s voting choices attracted significant attention. The Inter Miami forward placed Barcelona's 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal at the top of his list, followed by his ex-Paris Saint Germain team-mate Kylian Mbappe in second place. Interestingly, Messi did include Vinicius, the eventual winner, in his third spot, and left out Rodri completely from his list.

Messi’s top pick, Yamal, had an outstanding season for both club and country in 2023-24. The Barcelona teenager played a crucial role in Spain’s Euro 2024 success, delivering a standout performance in the semi-final against France and contributing four assists during the tournament. His efforts earned him the title of the tournament’s best young player. Although Barcelona endured a trophyless campaign last season, Yamal still shone individually, scoring seven goals and providing nine assists across 50 appearances in all competitions. His dynamic play has drawn comparisons to Messi’s early years at Barcelona, with the two players sharing a common starting point in the iconic La Masia academy.

Yamal’s rapid ascent has been interrupted by an injury sustained during Barcelona’s 1-0 loss to Leganes in La Liga on Sunday. Diagnosed with a grade 1 ligament injury, the young forward now faces an uncertain recovery period that will see his club take a cautious approach to his return. Meanwhile, Vinicius will be back in action for Real in the Intercontinental Cup final on Wednesday against Pachuca in Doha.