Leo Messi third in FIFA The Best award

Leo Messi may not be 'The Best' for 2020, that prize has gone to Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski, but the blaugrana captain does form part of the FIFA FIFPRO World XI for the 14th year in a row. The Argentine has finished third behind the Polish striker and Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo in the FIFA The Best Men's Player Category.  

Every football team in the world would like Leo Messi amongst their starting XI and the FIFA FIFPRO XI is no exception. At The Best FIFA Football Awards, this year celebrated remotely from FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, it was announced that for the 14th consecutive season Leo Messi would be amongst the ideal starting line up. 

The complete XI is as follows: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Sergio Ramos, Davies, Kimmich, De Bruyne, Thiago, Messi, Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo. The players were selected from the votes by fellow professionals. 

Aside from his stellar all round game, Messi can point to his goalscoring record as justification for his inclusion. Last season he won the pichichi award for top scorer in La Liga for the seventh time thanks to his 25 goals in 33 matches, overtaking the record for wins held by 1940's and 50's legend Telmo Zarra.  

Only Cristiano Ronaldo can boast of equalling Messi's achievement of 14 seasons in a row in the Best XI, an indication of an achievement only within reach of the few. It is the latest achievement for the Argentine in the month of December after his inclusion in the IFFHS XI for 2020 and France Football's Ballon d'Or 'Dream Team'. 

Luis Suárez, finalist for the Puskas award 

Former FC Barcelona striker Luis Suárez was amongst the three finalists for the Puskas Award for Best Goal for his striker against Mallorca in a Barça shirt in December 2019. The award was won by Tottenham Hotspur striker Son Heung-min.