Lionel Messi's reaction to Robert Lewandowski being announced as the Best FIFA Men's Player on Monday night was a wholesome one.
After a sensational year during which he broke Gerd Muller's goalscoring record, Lewandowski claimed the prize for the second year on the trot.
He finished four points ahead Of Messi, who was in second place after winning a seventh Ballon d'Or in late 2021.
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The event was largely a virtual one and so the Paris Saint-Germain star was live on video from his home and exuded calmness as he sat in his plain white t-shirt.
Messi in the FIFA ceremony was moving like the chaps in online school 😭pic.twitter.com/8u6YJfw30N
— MC (@CrewsMat10) January 17, 2022
But when FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced Lewandowski as the winner ahead of Messi and Mo Salah, the 34-year-old cracked a beaming smile.
Fans loved how delighted Messi was and compared his reaction to Ronaldo's at the very same event last year.
Messi smiling continuously knowing that Lewandowski has won the award !
— Asheshk (AKG) (@iamasheshk) January 17, 2022
Humbleness. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8lh52V5An5
Robert Lewandowski wins Best Fifa Men's Player 💯
— Habour Sika⚓🇬🇭 (@melo_mylo) January 17, 2022
This vindicates how he was robbed of the Balon d'Or. Messi is in pains 😂💔 pic.twitter.com/RmoX5A8qO1
Messi seeing Lewandowski winning FIFA The Best, despite him having the greatest case to win.
— MC (@CrewsMat10) January 17, 2022
You can’t hate him pic.twitter.com/QKpHMevJrj
This was Messi's actual reaction Lewa winning btw 👍 https://t.co/jxgGSyL4Fs pic.twitter.com/A4nbbEbuum
— Sajid03 (@Sjd_2021) January 17, 2022
Messi's reaction to Lewa winning the award. The man is genuinely happy for him ❤️ pic.twitter.com/4ttjE9CASz
— H_AE (@H_AE200) January 17, 2022
Messi's reaction to losing but some other players will go and comment factos on a random tweet.
— Unigwe Victor (@UnigweVictor) January 17, 2022
Class Player pic.twitter.com/2B8mYwV5ey
A year ago, Ronaldo was utterly fuming with Lewandowski's victory and here Messi was just happy for another player to get recognised.
😑 Cristiano Ronaldo, en el momento del anuncio del ganador de premio #TheBest2020 que quedó en manos de Lewandowski pic.twitter.com/sr9Yxo6T73
— Diario Olé (@DiarioOle) December 17, 2020
When giving a speech after winning the Ballon d'Or yet again last month, Messi paid tribute to Lewandowski and said he deserved the prize for his 2020 heroics.
"I’d like to mention Robert, it’s been a real honour to compete with him," Messi said on stage.
"I think France Football should award you your 2020 Ballon d’Or, you deserved it."
Yet when it came to voting for the Best Men's Player, Messi left out Lewandowski of his ballot entirely.
Instead, the Barcelona legend voted for PSG teammates Neymar and Kylian Mbappe as first and second respectively, with Karim Benzema in third.

Lewandowski selected Chelsea and Italy midfielder Jorginho as his number one choice and then went with Messi and Ronaldo as his remaining picks.
Featured Image Credit: Image: FIFA & Robert Lewandowski
Topics: Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, FIFA
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