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In November 2021, Lionel Messi was awarded a record-extending seventh Ballon d’Or for his exceptional performances throughout the calendar year. Messi could not help his former club Barcelona to the league title or the Champions League, but he was at his best for Argentina.
He put in multiple man-of-the-match performances and scored four goals to lead his country to Copa America glory. Argentina’s continental triumph marked their first major trophy since the 1986 World Cup.
At 34, Messi should biologically be in the twilight of his career. However, considering the way the Paris Saint-Germain star is performing and his sky-high ambitions, it isn’t premature to call him a contender for the 2022 Ballon d’Or.
It won’t be straightforward, but we believe the seven-time winner will be able to extend his tally if he manages to fulfill certain objectives.
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Here are the top five things Lionel Messi needs to do to win the Ballon d’Or in 2022:
#5 Win Golden Boot in the UEFA Champions League
To win the Ballon d’Or, it is important for Lionel Messi to lean on his goalscoring attributes and outscore his rivals. The Rosario-born superstar was not at his imperious best for Barcelona in the Champions League over the last couple of seasons.
In the 2019-20, Messi only netted three goals in eight appearances. The following campaign, he scored five times in six matches.
Since joining PSG last summer, the Argentina skipper has thankfully rediscovered his knack for scoring in Europe. The PSG no.30 has already scored five goals in the Champions League this season and is expected to eventually touch double digits.
Ajax’s Sebastien Haller is currently the leading goalscorer in the premier European competition this season, with 10 strikes in six games. Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski is a close second with nine goals.
#4 Inspire Argentina to reach at least the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup
2022 is a World Cup year, meaning players have the opportunity to pull ahead in the Ballon d’Or race with impressive performances at the showpiece event in Qatar.
Fresh off their Copa America triumph, Argentina will fancy going deep into the competition to replicate their heroics of 2014. The South Americans narrowly missed out on the ultimate prize eight years ago, losing to Germany in the final.
Their skipper, Lionel Messi, will once again be the man in focus and could reap the rewards if La Albiceleste reach the semi-finals or higher.
The Copa America champions finally have a team to contend for the ultimate prize, and Lionel Messi would surely try his best to make the opportunity count.
#3 Put in man-of-the-match performances in UEFA Champions League knockouts
Lionel Messi is arguably the best footballer the game has ever seen. He is exceptional with the ball at his feet, can score goals from anywhere, and possesses unmatched game reading skills.
But if there is one thing the player has not been world-class at, it has to be his performances in the Champions League knockout rounds.
The Argentine maverick often disappeared in clutch European knockout matches, which hurt Barcelona badly. His poor form in knockouts is one of the reasons why the Blaugrana could not win a single Champions League since the 2014-15 season.
At PSG, Messi has the opportunity to turn the tide. If he can keep his nerve and deliver in the knockouts, he will surely have an advantage in the Ballon d’Or race.
His first test will be in February, when the Parisians take on 13-time Champions League winners Real Madrid in the Round of 16.
#2 Lead PSG to their first-ever Champions League
Ligue 1 giants PSG are desperate to win their first UEFA Champions League title this season. And with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar in their ranks, the French giants are firm favorites to go all the way.
If everything falls into place and PSG do end up winning the Champions League, Messi could be the one to benefit the most. Under Mauricio Pochettino, the right-winger is likely to play every minute of knockout football, which could help his case in the Ballon d’Or race.
Despite a collective trophy, winning the Champions League will surely bring Messi into the spotlight and take him closer than ever to his eighth Ballon d’Or.
#1 Win the Player of the Tournament award at the FIFA World Cup 2022
Being chosen as the best player at the biggest footballing tournament in the world is any footballer’s dream. Lionel Messi has already realized his dream once in his career before, in 2014, and he’ll do his best to replicate his heroics this year.
Winning the Golden Ball at the 2022 World Cup would require Messi to fire on all cylinders right from the get-go. Thankfully, he has all the weapons in his arsenal to get the job done.
If Messi manages to inspire Argentina with regular goals, assists, or match-winning gameplay, we won’t be surprised to see him win the Golden Ball.
Bagging the second FIFA Golden Ball of his career would massively boost his chances of winning his eighth Ballon d’Or.
