#1 Lionel Messi

 #1 Lionel Messi (Argentina) - seven-time Ballon d'Or winner

The Copa America triumph cemented Lionel Messi's place as the greatest player of all time.

Lionel Messi has enjoyed a fulfilling 2021 calendar year. The 2021 Copa America triumph was the final piece of the puzzle, and a seventh Ballon d'Or crown is now the icing on the cake. But it feels like a formality at this point, as the Argentine legend has already cemented his place as the best player of all time.

The diminutive playmaker is undeniably the greatest attacking force to have stepped onto a football pitch. Whether it is gliding past players, unlocking defences with pinpoint passing or putting the ball into the back of the net, the 34-year-old continues to do it all at an elite level.

Like Cristiano Ronaldo, there is little use in dissecting Messi's rich haul of trophies. The duo have won everything there is to win apart from the elusive FIFA World Cup.

The little magician spent 17 glorious years with Barcelona after his debut in 2004, scoring 672 goals and providing 305 assists in 778 appearances. The Argentine is inarguably the greatest player in Barcelona and La Liga history. He is also the all-time top scorer for the Spanish club and the division as well.
Together with Pep Guardiola, Messi was at the heart of the greatest club football team in history - Barcelona's treble-winning team of 2009. Astonishingly, the best was yet to come. He followed that up with 91 goals in the 2012 calendar year, a frankly ridiculous record that is likely to stand for a very, very long time indeed.

In fact, Lionel Messi's 2011-12 campaign saw him score 73 goals and provide 48 assists in 61 appearances (as per Transfermarkt). It is arguably the greatest individual season in football history.

With seven Ballon d'Or wins, the 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year award, eight Pichichi trophies, two UEFA Men's Player of the year titles, seven La Liga Player of the Year crowns and five European Golden Boots, Messi has won every accolade possible during his club career.

During his time with the club, Barcelona became one of the most feared teams in world football. The Blaugrana and Messi won an incredible 35 trophies together, including ten La Liga titles, eight Spanish Super Cups, seven Copa del Rey trophies and four Champions League wins.
The only real criticism of Lionel Messi in the past was his failure to win an international trophy with Argentina. He finally conquered that frontier earlier this year, and in some style. Messi captained his country to Copa America glory, and was named Player of the Tournament as well.
It was sweet redemption for Messi after the heartbreak of the 2014 FIFA World Cup final. He did win the Golden Ball for best player at the tournament that year, though. Messi is Argentina's all-time record scorer, with 80 goals in 158 appearances. He also led them to gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The only question for Messi is what's next? Now on a new adventure in Paris, the Argentine superstar continues to dazzle and entertain fans, who may never see anyone quite like him again.

“I think about the great players with whom I have shared a pitch: Eric Cantona, Zinedine Zidane, Pirlo, Xavi, Ronaldo and the greatest of them all is Messi,” said Paul Scholes while discussing the Argentinean superstar.