The Best FIFA Awards’ 10th edition took place in Doha, Qatar, earlier this Tuesday, Dec. 16, and Lionel Messi’s voting choices have now been revealed. France and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star Ousmane Dembélé was crowned at the event, but who did Messi pick?
Lionel Messi Voted for a Former Club Teammate in The Best FIFA Awards
According to a report from FIFA Digital Hub, Messi picked his top three men’s stars of 2025 as Argentina’s captain. He voted for Dembélé as The Best FIFA Men’s Player due to the ex-Barcelona forward’s exploits for PSG in the 2024-25 season.
Messi, who is a three-time The Best FIFA Men’s Player award winner, chose Real Madrid ace Kylian Mbappe as his second choice. Lastly, he picked Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal as his third-best men’s player of 2025.
Last season, Dembélé registered a whopping 51 goal involvements in 53 overall outings for PSG en route to a prestigious treble win. Mbappe guided Real Madrid to two trophies, while Yamal played a crucial role in Barcelona’s domestic treble glory.
Apart from Dembélé, Mbappe, and Yamal, Mohamed Salah, Raphinha, Harry Kane, Vitinha, Achraf Hakimi, Pedri, Cole Palmer, and Nuno Mendes were also nominated for the award.
England Legend Picks Messi as One of His Two GOATs
During a recent appearance on The Obi One Podcast, England icon Gary Lineker was asked to pick between Messi and Argentina legend Diego Maradona. The 65-year-old lauded both Argentines, waxing lyrical about the Inter Miami star’s passing ability as well.
“It would be almost impossible to choose if you took them both at their absolute prime. I don’t think there’s very much to choose between them except… I don’t know; I think I never thought I’d see a player that’s better than Diego, but I think in Messi, we do; we have,” Lineker responded to former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel.
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Lineker, who represented Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur as a player, added, “Because of and also Messi’s extraordinary passing range and… I mean, Diego used to see things, but Messi sees things that you can only see from above. It’s extraordinary. Some of the passes he picks out, his vision is just simply outrageous. They are my best.”
Both Messi and Maradona have attained legendary status in the sport over the years. While the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner has guided Argentina to four trophies so far, the 1986 FIFA World Cup winner helped La Albiceleste win two pieces of silverware during his playing career.