Harry Kane believes Lionel Messi is still the best player in the world despite not making it into the top 30 of this year’s Ballon d’Or shortlist. Messi, who now plays for Inter Miami, has led his team to win the Supporters Shield in his first full season. The Argentine legend remains in stellar form, scoring hat-tricks in his recent matches against Bolivia in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and New England Revolution in MLS. Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, was instrumental in helping Miami set a new MLS single-season points record, breaking the previous record held by the 2021 Revolution squad.
Even though Messi missed out on the Ballon d’Or shortlist this year, England captain Harry Kane still regards him as the world’s best player. In a Q&A with Goal, when asked about the best player right now, the Bayern Munich forward quickly named Messi, praising his performance in the recent Copa America and acknowledging his high level of play.
Messi, after his hat-trick against Bolivia, hinted that he is nearing the end of his career but emphasized that he hasn’t set a specific date for his retirement. He expressed his gratitude for the support he’s receiving and mentioned his emotional connection to the game. Surrounded by younger teammates in the Argentina squad, Messi feels rejuvenated and continues to enjoy his time on the field. He plans to keep playing as long as he can contribute to the team and maintain his love for the game.
