Lionel Messi has beaten Virgil van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo to be crowned Best FIFA Men's Player at the Best FIFA Football Awards.
FIFA hosted its annual football award ceremony at the Teatro alla Scala in Italy on Monday evening UK time.
And the Barcelona superstar, 32, took home his first major individual award since 2015.
He said: "It's a special night for me.
"I'm lucky to have my wife and two of my three children here with me.
"It's the first time they're here and to be able to enjoy this with them is unique."
Liverpool defender Van Dijk was widely tipped to win the award after beating Messi and Ronaldo to the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award last month.
The Best FIFA Men's Player, which was first introduced in 2016, has previously been won twice by Ronaldo and won once by Luka Modric.
And FIFA praised Messi for winning an award that has "eluded him."
FIFA posted on its website: "In a glittering and superlative career to date, there are few personal accolades and records that Lionel Messi has not won.
"One that had eluded him was the title of The Best FIFA Men's Player -- until this year.
"After a magnificent domestic campaign which saw the evergreen Argentinean once more helped his side to the Spanish La Liga title, the tenth of his career, he also claimed the European Golden Shoe for the sixth time after netting 36 league goals in 2018-19.
"His remarkable goalscoring record did not hinder his ability to help his teammates, with La Pulga registering the most La Liga assists (13) throughout the campaign.
"His brilliance also helped the Blaugrana to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals and the Copa Del Rey final while he played his part in Argentina's third-place finish at the Copa America.
"It may have taken four attempts, but Messi is now The Best."
Will Messi win the Ballon d'Or?
Let us know in the comments.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics:Β Football News, Best FIFA Football Awards, Football, FIFA, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Virgil Van Dijk, Cristiano Ronaldo, Barca
