Lionel Messi Cracks Ribs Following FIFA Awards Win

Lionel Messi may be known as the quiet man with little words, his FIFA awards speech, shows the sensational player does have a funny bone in him to crack ribs.

The star forward for Paris Saint-Germain and the Argentine national team, won the Best FIFA Men’s Player award for the second time, however he did so before leaving the audience in stitches with his closing remarks.

Lionel Messi, who won the same award in 2019, was recognized for his outstanding performance in 2022, which saw him lead Argentina to victory in the World Cup.

At the ceremony held at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Messi received the award from Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA. The 35-year-old footballer was widely expected to win and did so in an absolute landslide, with fans, players, and coaches voting to give him an overall 52 points.

His Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe came in second with 44 points, while 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema finished third on 35 points.

In his acceptance speech, Messi thanked his teammates and coaches for their support throughout the year, acknowledging that he would not have achieved his success without them. He also expressed his gratitude to his family and the people of Argentina, and stated that winning the World Cup was the most beautiful thing that had happened in his career.

However, it was his closing remarks that left the audience laughing. Messi sent a message to his three children, Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro, who were watching the ceremony, telling them that it was time for bed.

“I want to send a kiss to my children, who are watching this, Thiago Mateo and Ciro, I love you…… now go to bed!” he said, prompting laughter from the audience.

As captain of the Argentine national team, Messi was able to vote in several FIFA awards. He selected his PSG colleagues Neymar and Mbappe as his first two picks, with Benzema coming in third, according to FIFA’s official website.

In addition to winning the Best FIFA Men’s Player award, Messi was also named in the FIFPRO Men’s World 11, while his Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni won the Best Coach award.

Messi’s win adds another accolade to his already impressive list of achievements, cementing his position as one of the greatest footballers of all time.