Former German football legend Lothar Matthäus said he is very happy with the levels Lionel Messi is showing in the World Cup, but he does not see the Argentina captain as a serious candidate for the best player awards this year.

Matthäus explained that Messi, aged 39, plays in the American MLS with Inter Miami and not at one of the major European clubs, so he should not be voted for The Best award from FIFA or the Ballon d'Or, even if he leads Argentina to another World Cup triumph.

The 1990 World Cup winner told German newspaper Bild on Saturday: 'The league Messi plays in does not come close to the level of the competitions in which Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Erling Haaland play. These players are active in the strongest European leagues.'

Matthäus added: 'The best player in the world should have delivered a convincing level throughout the entire year. Messi has done well with Miami, but the American league, let's say, is not among the top 10 or 15 leagues in the world. Haaland and Kane have shown different levels of performance in the Champions League compared to Lionel Messi.'

Messi has previously won the best player award eight times in his illustrious career, including after his World Cup victory with Argentina in 2022.

The Argentina national team faces Switzerland in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup in Kansas City later on Saturday.

Matthäus

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