“I do not choose Messi” – Luis Figo suggests why 2 players are having better seasons than Lionel Messi despite him winning FIFA World Cup

Former Portugal captain Luis Figo has refused to agree that Lionel Messi is the best player this season. Figo's comments were surprising as the Argentine superstar won the 2022 FIFA World Cup earlier this season.

Messi was phenomenal in the Qatar World Cup, racking up seven goals and three assists in seven games at the quadrennial event. He was awarded the Golden Ball and also helped Argentina lift the World Cup after 36 years.

Additionally, he has scored 20 goals and laid out 19 assists in 37 games for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) this season.

However, Figo believes there are two other players who are currently having a better season than Messi. Speaking at a press conference in Paris, the Real Madrid legend said (as quoted by Mundo Deportivo):

“Maybe [Erling] Haaland because he is having a great season but [Karim] Benzema can still win it. I do not choose Messi because he is not in the Champions League and for me that is decisive.”

Manchester City forward Erling Haaland arrived last summer from Borussia Dortmund. He is enjoying a phenomenal debut campaign under Pep Guardiola and has registered 51 goals and eight assists in 46 games for the Cityzens.

Haaland has broken the record for the most number of Premier League goals in a single campaign in his debut season. His current tally stands at 35 goals in 32 games and he could yet breach the 40-goal mark as well.

The Norwegian's team is in contention to complete a treble by winning the Premier League, FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League this season. They are first in the league, have made the finals of the cup and are in the semifinals of the Champions League as well.

Standing in City's way in Europe are the current holders Real Madrid, led by reigning Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema. The Frenchman has scored 29 goals and laid down six assists in 38 games for Los Blancos this term.

Their La Liga title challenge is all but over but Real Madrid have already lifted the Copa del Rey and are still in the fray to win the Champions League. According to Figo, that will be a deciding factor in the race for the best player, which leaves Lionel Messi in the cold, with PSG exiting the competition in the Round of 16.

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Lionel Messi could leave PSG this summer - Reports

Lionel Messi joined PSG on a free transfer back in the summer of 2021 after failing to extend his contract at Barcelona due to La Liga's wage policy. He had a slow first season at Parc des Princes but has done well for the club this season.

Despite his improved efforts, PSG failed to win the UEFA Champions League yet again, getting knocked out by Bayern Munich in the first knockout round. They are on course to win Ligue 1 for the second season in a row, but many believe the Lionel Messi experiment has largely failed.

His unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia earlier this month, which led to PSG fining and suspending him, hasn't gone down well with fans either.

In the wake of these developments, transfer news specialist Fabrizio Romano reported earlier this month that Lionel Messi was certain to leave PSG this summer. However, the Argentine superstar will make a final decision on his future only after the end of the campaign.