Lionel Messi, a renowned football star, has achieved almost every accolade in the sport during his two-decade career. With stints at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami, as well as playing for the Argentinian national team, Messi has earned numerous team and individual honors.
The recipient of eight Ballon d’Or awards, Messi also boasts four Champions League titles. In 2022, he further enhanced his illustrious career by leading Argentina to victory in the World Cup.
Now 36, Messi is in the running for a distinctive honor. He’s been shortlisted for an award at the ESLAND awards, an event hosted by Spanish YouTuber and streamer TheGrefg, celebrating Spanish-speaking content creators.
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Nominated in the “anger of the year” category, Messi’s nomination stems from an incident with YouTuber and streamer Ibai Llanos. This occurred just after Messi won his eighth Ballon d’Or. During an interview with Llanos, Messi confronted him for allegedly sharing a private Instagram message. Messi expressed his displeasure but ended the conversation on a lighter note, jokingly warning Llanos to be careful in the future.
This exchange has led to Messi’s nomination, with the award winner to be announced at a Gala on February 17 and 18.
Messi’s interaction with Llanos highlights the growing connections between top football players and the world of YouTubers and streamers. Notably, Messi’s former Argentina teammate Sergio Aguero has ventured into streaming and Twitch since retiring in 2021.
Currently, Messi is gearing up for his first full season with Inter Miami, having joined the MLS club last year. He led them to victory in the Leagues Cup, and his focus is now on improving the team’s performance in the league following their failure to make the 2023 playoffs.