Lionel Messi is the number 1 in world football according to Diario MARCA’s “Top 100” list. The influential Madrid-based daily presented a ten-player shortlist to its readers, who chose the FC Barcelona star ahead of Real Madrid’s Luka Modriu0107.
Another publication, France Football, gave their prestigious Ballon d’Or award to Modriu0107. Messi finished only fifth in their rankings.
Calling Messi the “clear winner,” MARCA praised the Argentine’s 2018 thusly: “Messi has won the Golden Boot, is top scorer of the calendar year, won a league and cup double.