For soccer icon Lionel Messi, the years only seem to get better and better. He fulfilled his dream of winning the World Cup just a year ago, and this year he made a headline-grabbing transfer to Inter Miami. Also, the Argentine has now expanded his list of accomplishments.
As the very first male soccer player to win TIME’s Athlete of the Year award, Lionel Messi has created history. By making this declaration, Messi cemented his place as a great sports hero and joined the ranks of players like Simon Biles, Michael Phelps, and LeBron James.
Lionel Messi becomes only footballer EVER to have been named as @TIME’s Athlete Of The Year. 👑🏅 pic.twitter.com/GNXSwHGOMt
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) December 5, 2023
Many soccer fans took to social media apps such as X and Instagram to pour their love for Messi. Also, Messi fans did not leave a chance to rub salt in Cristiano Ronaldo’s wounds as one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “We Don’t Chase the Records, It Follows Us” regarding Messi’s TIME magazine announcement.
We don’t chase the records, It follows us pic.twitter.com/nML2KYCKN0
— halfcast (@half_castFCB) December 5, 2023
Lionel Messi is one of the greatest players of all time in soccer, GOAT as the soccer community term him. He has cemented his place as the greatest sportsman to live in this generation with such decorated awards that he has won in this year of 2023. Also, this 2022-2023 season will go down as one of the best in the history of Lionel Messi and his fans.
Lionel Messi achieves yet another historical feat in his glorious career
Lionel Messi has achieved yet another historical feat in his career by being named the first-ever male soccer player to be named the Athlete of the Year by TIME. Also, this is a huge feat to his name as no soccer player had ever done this before in their lives.
The exciting news that Lionel Messi has been named the 2023 Athlete of the Year was recently announced by Time Magazine on X. With the assistance of Sean Gregory, the TIME Senior Sports Correspondent, they explained in a video the logic behind La Pulga’s success. He emphasized the 36-year-old’s significant influence on the soccer community.
Why Lionel Messi is TIME’s Athlete of the Year https://t.co/9Fj13nyldY pic.twitter.com/ySp5LtkXSK
— TIME (@TIME) December 5, 2023
Gregory stated, “The reason Messi stands out is because of the football fever that he brought to the United States and really to the world throughout the year.” With his unexpected transfer to Inter Miami, Lionel Messi did increase American interest in soccer. Naturally, discussion of the World Cup victory came up in the reasoning as well.
It remains to be seen what happens next with the soccer legend Lionel Messi’s future now. Also, with so many accolades already to his name, he does not seem to stop and is getting ready for the new MLS 2024 season in style.