A Brazil international, who has gone up against FC Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi many times, has hit out at FIFA for snubbing the Argentine for their official three-man shortlist for The Best Men's Player 2018 award.
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Earlier this week, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah and Luka Modric were named as the final three on the shortlist to win FIFA's best men's player award for the 2017/18 season.
Atletico Madrid and Selecao star Filipe Luis has since insisted that, although Messi was left off the list, he remains the world's best player.
"(FIFA's The Best) Award is for the best player in the world. In my opinion, the best player in the world is (Lionel) Messi," he said, according to ESPN.
"Today, last year, two years ago and three years ago. From the moment that Messi does not win the award, with everything that he does, it loses some of its credibility.
"No matter if one player won the Champions (League), if another played the final. In my opinion, Messi is the best (in) the world. And he has been for several years.
"OK, Neymar will be there one day, (Mohamed) Salah deserves to be at the top three, Cristiano (Ronaldo) deserves to be at the top three.
"But, to demonstrate his level in such a way in every single game he plays, I don't have any doubt that he (Messi) is the best player in the world."
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Many feel that, not only should Messi have been among the nominees, but perhaps the winner of the award too, following his 45 goals and 18 assists for the Blaugrana last season.
Do you agree with what Luis said? Let us know in the comments section below.
