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#3 Domestic success doesn't count anymore
One of the major reasons why many football fans have been so upset with FIFA's decision to omit Lionel Messi from their final shortlist is because the association refused to recognize the incredible achievements of the playmaker in their decision-making.
The Argentine had a great outing with Barcelona last season, producing a lot of spectacular performances and leading the Catalans to claim both the La Liga title and the Copa Del Rey trophy during the campaign. As a matter of fact, he had a better domestic outing than all of the finalists, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, and Mohamed Salah all having nothing to show for their domestic campaigns.
Therefore, the decision to omit Lionel Messi from the Player Of The Year award final shortlist despite his achievements with Barcelona last term is an indication that FIFA no longer attaches much value to domestic success anymore.
