This article was originally published on www.si.com as Lionel Messi Snubs Lamine Yamal in Surprise The Best Men’s Player Vote. Lionel Messi caught many by surprise when it was revealed that he ranked Lamine Yamal as only the third-best player in the world.

Handed out since 2009, the Puskas Award has coincided with an era dominated by two players in particular — Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. But how have they fared when it comes to the honour?

The winner of The Best FIFA Men's Player award for 2025 has been announced, with Paris-Saint Germain attacker and Ballon d'Or holder Ousmane Dembele once again scooping the top prize after an exceptional season.

Lionel Messi’s votes for The Best FIFA Men’s Player award have been revealed, with the Argentine icon including Barcelona teenage sensation Lamine Yamal among his top three.

Lionel Messi has been named the 2025 MLS MVP, the league announced on Dec. 9. He led MLS with 48 goal contributions for title-winning Inter Miami.

Messi becomes the sixth player in MLS history to win MVP and a championship in the same season. Of the previous five, only Atlanta United's Josef Martinez in 2018 won MVP, a title and the Golden Boot as the league's scoring champion all in the same year, another hat trick of sorts that Messi achieved in 2025.

Messi has capped off one of the most successful seasons in league history and been rewarded with another MVP award. No player has ever won the award in consecutive years, while Preki is the only player to win the award twice.

Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has been voted the 2025 MLS MVP, becoming the first player in league history to win the award in two consecutive seasons.

The accolades keep rolling in for Lionel Messi, who has won his second straight MLS MVP award after leading Inter Miami to the 2025 MLS Cup.

Lionel Messi wins back-to-back MVP in MLS, a first in the league's history, with a record performance at Inter Miami.