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Having signed Lionel Messi on a free transfer, Paris Saint-Germain are now the favourites to win Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
Messi is arguably the best player to have played the game, and at Paris Saint-Germain he will be alongside two of the best in the world in the form of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. PSG have accumulated a star-studded squad, and Messi is the crown jewel.
Despite Barcelona's relatively poor run of form in recent seasons, Messi had been brilliant. Now, with such an incredible lineup at the Ligue 1 giants, Messi has a good chance of winning every trophy available.
We look at 5 individual awards Lionel Messi could win this season.
#5 European Golden Shoe
Barcelona's decline in recent years has not stopped Lionel Messi from being at his brilliant best.
The Argentina international has been the best player in the world last decade. Messi's goalscoring prowess has been well-covered, and he has won the most European Golden Shoe awards, awarded to the leading goalscorer in league games from the top division of the European leagues.
Messi has won six European Golden Shoes, with his most recent coming for the 2018/19 season. Since then, Lazio's Ciro Immobile and Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski have won the award, but Messi has a good chance of getting his hands on the prestigious award this time around. With the likes of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe playing alongside him, Messi will be the favourite to do so.
#4 Ligue 1 Player of the Year
Ligue 1 boasts some of the genuine superstars of the game, and some big-names have won the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award.
Lionel Messi could be the next in line. The 34-year-old will be competing with some of his teammates like Neymar and Kylian Mbappe for the award, while the likes of AS Monaco's Wissam Ben Yedder and Lyon's Lucas Paqueta are capable as well.
Mbappe won the Ligue 1 Player of the Year for the 2020/21 season. Very few doubt Messi's quality, and there is a good chance he will take home the Player of the Year for this season.
#3 Ballon d'Or
Lionel Messi is the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or for the seventh time after his spectacular performances at Copa America 2021.
Messi was Barcelona's best player last season and was the best player at the Copa America 2021, where he captained Argentina to victory. The superstar forward has already won six Ballon d'Or awards, arguably the most prestigious individual prize in football.
The Ballon d'Or has been dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for some time now, and Messi's excellent summer could see him pip the likes of Jorginho, N'Golo Kante, Robert Lewandowski and Ronaldo to the award.
#2 UEFA Player of the Year
Another prestigious individual accolade in football, the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award is awarded to the best player for both club and country in the previous season.
Cristiano Ronaldo has won three UEFA Men's Player of the Year awards, while Lionel Messi has two. Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski is the current holder the trophy, having won for his spectacular performances during the 2019/20 season.
Lionel Messi was at his very best for Barcelona last season. In 35 La Liga games, he scored 30 goals and provided nine assists, while he was also the best player at the Copa America 2021. Messi could complete a clean sweep of the awards this season.
#1 The Best FIFA Men's Player
Football might be a team sport, but the individual awards on offer often create huge debates among critics and fans.
There have been some iterations of the Best FIFA Football Awards. Currently the men's award is called the Best FIFA Men's Player, with Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski once again the current holder of the title.
Lionel Messi finished third last year, behind Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo. Awarded to the world's best men's player, Messi stands an excellent chance of winning the award. The diminutive forward has previously won this iteration of the trophy in 2019.
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