Ronaldo posted an inspirational message to social media shortly after Lionel Messi won FIFA’s Best Me𝚗’s Player of the Year award.

This past Monday, the captain of the Argentina national team that won the World Cup took home the FIFA The Best Me𝚗’s Player of the Year trophy for a record-tying third time, adding to his eight Ballon d’Or victories this year. Even though he was not involved in the final tally, his long-time opponent took to social media to react to the news.Ronaldo published an Instagram photo of himself with the inspirational remark, “Back for more! 💪🏽”

The Portuguese superstar had a breakout year in 2023, setting a new league record with 54 goals for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr. After a fierce competition, the 38-year-old was named the year’s top me𝚗’s striker, surpassing stars like Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland.On February 1, the Riyadh Cup will pit two footballing legends—Al-Nassr and Inter Miami—against in a friendly match.

Respect for Messi holds off rising stars to individual awards

In the same year when Messi joined Inter Miami of the Major League Soccer, which many consider as a step down in standard, the controversial choice of the 36-year-old over potential successors Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe ensued.

Last year, though, Messi’s magnetic presence was on full display as he swiftly dominated the American market.

As a co-owner with David Beckham, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner guided a struggling team to their first title, the Leagues Cup, in August.

While he did win a league championship with Paris Saint-Germain before he left Europe, his last few months there were anything but smooth.

After Messi’s unlаwful journey to Saudi Arabia to meet business engagements, the PSG fans booed and the club suspended him.

As a result, it seemed as though a genius whose star was fading, despite the fact that it was arguably higher than anybody else’s.

Even though Haaland won the treble in his first season with Manchester City and scored 52 goals, he should listen to his manager if he feels wronged by the fact that he has more to come.

After orchestrating City’s triumphs in the Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup last season, Pep Guardiola was among those recognized as coach of the year at FIFA’s awards ceremony in London.

Messi is a legendary player, and Guardiola, in his four years as Barcelona manager, had the privilege of seeing him up close.

“I always said that the Ballon d’Or should be split into two parts, one for Messi and the other for the other, so Haaland should win, yes,” Guardiola stated in the lead-up to the October presentation.

“We won the treble because he scored 50 million goals but of course Messi…the worst season for Messi is the best for the rest of the players.”

King of the fieldThis small man from Rosario became a modern-day soccer powerhouse after being lured to Catalonia and scored 672 goals in 778 appearances for Barça.

A nimble, somewhat ιnjury-prone winger who, as a teenager, required Barcelona to cover the cost of growth hormone therapy, eventually became an unstoppable ‘false nine,’ deadly from free-kicks, and the ultimate creator of goals.

One of his four European championships with Barça was a stunning header he scored in the Champions League final against Manchester United. He even soared to score the goal.

While playing with the Catalan giants, you won ten La Liga championships, seven Copas del Rey, and three Club World Cups.Still, it took the longest for the most important award to come.

Like Diego Maradona did for Argentina in the 1986 World Cup, Messi spent a lot of time worrying about how to bring his nation glory.

From his brief stints as a wonder kid in 2006 through his prime years—including his devastating 2014 loss to Germany—Messi missed four opportunities to shine on the world stage.

It seemed like the world of football was shifting hands when a teenage Mbappe scored four goals to lead France to a 4-3 win over La Albiceleste in 2018.

Messi, though, defied both the passage of time and Mbappe’s genius in what was perhaps the greatest World Cup final of all time in 2022.

In a tҺrilling 3-3 draw in Doha, Mbappe scored three goals while Messi scored two. However, Argentina won on penalties, granting Messi the opportunity to finally follow in Maradona’s footsteps.

Players, fans, and journalists all hold Messi in high esteem, thus the next crop of superstars, including Mbappe, Haaland, Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid, and Vinicius Junior, will have to wait another year to receive the major individual accolades.