The prestigious award, which Lionel Messi will aim to win the Golden Foot for the first time, has been achieved by legends such as Ryan Giggs, Ronaldinho and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Lionel Messi, the legendary Argentine footballer with eight Ballon d’Or titles to his name, is yet to secure another prestigious individual award – the Golden Foot. Introduced in 2003, the Golden Foot is designed to honor players aged 28 or above. According to the rules, players can only receive the award once in their playing careers.

Despite being eligible for the last seven editions, Messi has not won the Golden Foot, a notable absence from his extensive list of achievements. The award has been claimed by other football luminaries, including Gianluigi Buffon, Iker Casillas, Edison Cavani, and Luka Modric.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi’s longtime rival, secured the Golden Foot award in 2020 while playing for Juventus. The most recent editions were won by Mohamed Salah and Robert Lewandowski.

The unique aspect of the Golden Foot is that winners get to add their footprints to the “Champions Promenade” in Monaco. Messi, having moved to MLS side Inter Miami from PSG, will likely be a strong contender for the 2023 Golden Foot when nominations are announced, considering his recent Ballon d’Or win and contributions to PSG’s Ligue 1 title. The latest edition of the award is set to be presented in the summer, departing from its previous end-of-calendar-year schedule.