Filipe Luis Questions FIFA

By Danny Ward

Felipe Luis has questioned the credibility of FIFA for leaving out Lionel Messi in the three-man 2017/18 Men’s Footballer of the Year award shortlist.

According to the Atletico Madrid left-back, Lionel Messi deserves to be on the shortlist because he is the best player on the planet now.

FIFA announced the nominees on Monday with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Real Madrid’s Luka Modric and former Real Madrid but now Juventus Cristiano Ronaldo, vying for the Men’s Player of the Year award, and Luis believes the absence of the Barcelona star reduces the credibility of the award.

"The award is for the best player in the world - and that today for me is Messi”, Luis told a press conference at the Brazil national team camp on Wednesday. “It is just like it was in the past years, and when he's not there, the award loses its credibility.”

The Brazilian fullback further said: "It doesn't matter if somebody wins the World Cup or the Champions League, he is the best."