Di International Federation of Football History and Statistics, wey dem dey call IFFHS, don announce say Lionel Messi na di best player for di 2026 World Cup. Dis one na big honour wey di federation dey give to player wey perform well well for di tournament.
According to IFFHS, dem use special performance index wey dey calculate based on match ratings, goals, assists, and how player perform for knockout stages. After dem don analyse every match for di World Cup, di verdict clear: Messi na di best.
Messi play all 7 matches for Argentina campaign, total 626 minutes. He score 8 goals and give 4 assists, wey make am 12 goal contributions. Dis kind performance na im make IFFHS choose am, not by sentiment or reputation, but by di data wey no dey lie.
Di IFFHS performance index put heavy weight for knockout rounds, because na there di real test of greatness dey happen. Messi contributions for knockout stages help Argentina reach final, and im aggregate index score pass every other player for di tournament.
Di federation panel wey use statistical evidence reach dis conclusion with full confidence. Dem say, “Lionel Messi is IFFHS Best Player, not by sentiment, not by reputation, but by di unimpeachable authority of di data.”
Dis award come just few days after FIFA give di official Golden Ball to Spain captain Rodri. Messi get Silver Ball, and French star Kylian Mbappé get Bronze. Different winners, different yardsticks. FIFA awards dey based on official voting, while IFFHS ranking dey rest on specific statistical index wey measure individual output and technical impact for di tournament.
For di World Cup final, Argentina lose to Spain, but IFFHS still recognize Messi as di best player. Di organisation say, “Messi’s contributions in the knockout stages were integral to Argentina’s progression, and his aggregate index score across all weighted criteria ranked above all other players evaluated at the 2026 World Cup.”
