FIFA Best Player 2018: Ranking the 10 Nominees

#3 Lionel Messi (Barcelona / Argentina)

Lionel Messi was the top goalscorer in Europe in 2017/18

Was there a better goalscorer in club football last season? Nope! Lionel Messi was on top of his game as Barcelona won La Liga (almost unbeaten) and the Copa del Rey to seal yet another double.

There was a lot of disappointment when they were knocked out of the Champions League but Messi was a force to reckon with in La Liga.

How much did he dominate the Spanish top flight? 33 goals (1st), 12 assists (1st), 84 chances created (1st), 174 successful dribbles (1st).

In a league as technical as La Liga, Messi was virtually unstoppable and rescued Barcelona even when he was rested and came on as a substitute when things weren't going their way.

At the World Cup, though, he was let down by a poor squad and an even poorer coach in Jorge Sampaoli who had no clear plan and experimented way too much. Messi did score to drag them to the knockout stages but they were beaten by a France side who were superior in many aspects, evident from their eventual win.