Lionel Messi named best Argentine athlete of the decade

Another day, another award given to Lionel Messi in the incredible journey that is his footballing career. It really does seem sometimes that Leo breaks records and claims silverware almost on a daily basis. Of course, in reality, that isn’t entirely so but it also isn’t that far from the truth either.

The latest such accomplishment for Barcelona’s talisman is being named the best Argentine athlete of the decade, an award presented by the Konex Foundation. Needless to say, this is not a small feat, especially when you consider the other sportsmen Leo had to beat on the way to the trophy.

En24 News reported that Messi was awarded this particular piece of silverware ahead of the likes of Joan Román Riquelme, tennis player Juan Martín del Potro or Atlético Madrid’s coach Diego Simeone, all of whom were influential Argentine figures in the last decade.

However, none of them has achieved as much as Messi has. The little man from Rosario has won five Ballon d’Ors (out of six in total) and five Golden boots in that period and that’s nowhere near the end of the list either.

Now, he joins the esteemed company of the country’s other legendary names such as Diego Armando Maradona, tennis player Gabriela Sabatini and basketball player Emanuel Ginobili, all of whom have also accomplished this feat in the past.

There are not too many things left for Leo to accomplish in his career as a football player but taking his country all the way is one such thing. However, despite not backing it up with silverware, it is nice to see he is still getting recognised as an influential figure.

Because he deserves nothing less.