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Vikas joshi

Updated on Jun 6, 2026•sports

Is Messi the Best Player After Winning 5th Golden Shoe

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3 Answers
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Tony Abraham
Updated on Jun 6, 2026

Well, that’s the talk of the town. And there are football gurus confirming the query for you.

It is the La Liga chief, Tebas himself, who thinks that the FC Barcelona superstar has no match in this era, despite being a Real Madrid fan. He also adds that those who think differently have no understanding of the game of Football. (Source: SportsKeeda)
 
According to Tebas, Leo is way ahead of the Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi winning his fifth Golden Shoe is a twofold feat –one, he is the owner of the highest number of Golden Shoes, and two, he broke Ronaldo’s record, who was leading until now with four Shoes in his bag.
 
Messi has won the Golden Shoes in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2018, while Ronaldo did so in 2008, 2011, 2013 (shared with Luis Suarez) and 2015. (Source: Soccerladuma)
 
Just have a look at these spectacular feats of Messi:
 
 
Along with being an exceptional footballer, he is a good human too. Being as humble and down to earth as he could, while receiving the Golden Shoe, he said, "I did not expect all of this when I started….My dream was to be a professional, to be able to succeed in football.”
 
Messi right now is the top goal scorer in Europe in 2017-18 with 34 goals in 36 La Liga appearances. In this term too, he has scored 14 goals so far, hence becoming a strong contender for another Golden Shoe. Wow!
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Priya Agrawal
Random Facts Enthusiast
Answered on May 21, 2026

When Lionel Messi won his 5th European Golden Shoe, football fans around the world once again started debating whether he truly deserved to be called the best player in the world.

The interesting thing about football debates is that there is rarely one final answer because fans compare players across:

  • Goals
  • Trophies
  • Skills
  • Consistency
  • Influence
  • Longevity

Messi’s 5th Golden Shoe became special because it highlighted his incredible consistency in scoring goals across multiple seasons.

What made Messi stand out was not just the number of goals but the way he played:

  • Dribbling ability
  • Vision
  • Passing
  • Creativity
  • Ball control
  • Playmaking

Many football fans believe Messi’s style feels more “natural” and artistic compared to many other players.

At the same time, football discussions always become emotional because players like:

  • Cristiano Ronaldo
  • Neymar
  • Mbappé
  • Ronaldinho

also have massive fanbases and achievements.

One reason Messi received so much praise after the 5th Golden Shoe was because maintaining world-class performance year after year is extremely difficult in modern football.

Football today involves:

  • Intense competition
  • Physical pressure
  • Tactical systems
  • Constant media scrutiny

Yet Messi kept performing consistently.

Another important point is that greatness in football is not judged only by statistics. Fans also remember:

  • Memorable moments
  • Match-winning performances
  • Emotional connection
  • Playing style

That is why debates around “the greatest player” never fully end.

For many fans, Messi winning the Golden Shoe strengthened the argument that he belonged among football’s greatest legends. Whether someone considers him the absolute best often depends on personal preference, football philosophy, and emotional attachment to the game.

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Sam Clark
Answered on Jan 6, 2019

He is now the first player other than Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi to be voted best player of the year by international football journalists since the Brazilian Kaka won the Ballon d'Or in 2007. Whether or not this is the end of the Messi-Ronaldo era remains to be seen though.

 

Has Lionel Messi become the best football player of this era, after winning his 5th Golden Shoe

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