The 35-year-old Messi has also been linked in the media with a move back to boyhood club Barcelona
Pochettino, who is well aware of Messi's game-changing abilities having worked with the 35-year-old last season, said he was still the best player in the world.
Erling Haaland had the same points as Lionel Messi but lost out by having fewer first-place votes from national team captains.
In total, he has scored 788 career goals.
Argentina's World Cup winning captain Lionel Messi was named the Laureus Sportsman of the Year, while sprint champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce bagged the top women's honour.
A Saudi Arabian businessman is leading bidding to watch the latest chapter in Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's celebrated rivalry in global soccer with a 10 million riyals ($2.66 million) offer for a ticket to a showpiece game.
The message of support from Newell's was posted on social media hours before Saturday's home game against Barracas Central in the Argentine league.
Australia midfielder Cameron Devlin did not play a minute of the World Cup but left Qatar with one of its biggest prizes after exchanging jerseys with Argentina's Lionel Messi.
Alvarez tweeted that he got carried away and apologised to Messi and the people of Argentina.
A confectioner in Kolkata displays confectionery created in the likeness of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi on Sunday, the opening day of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
India's footballing future was discussed in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday by Congress member Jose K Mani, as he cited tiny Dutch-Caribbean island Curacao's World Cup qualification to ask Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya about the long-term plan for sport in the country that is on a downward spiral.
'Very much proud of you My Pushpa... Be safe n healthy & make others healthy.'
Fans get their body tattooed after Argentina's soccer national team won FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, December 20, 2022.
Brazil were humiliated 4-1 by bitter rivals Argentina in South American World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday as the pressure mounted on manager Dorival Jr after his side were comprehensively outplayed and fortunate not to lose by more.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the emir of Qatar and PSG's owner, was a happy man as he enveloped PSG players Messi, Mbappe and Angel Di Maria with a warm hug.
'Despite the fact that the FIFA Appeal Committee considered Lionel Messi's behaviour as reproachable, the former concluded that the evidence available was not sufficient to establish...(sanctions) could be applied'
"I want to continue playing as a World Cup champion."
Lionel Scaloni picked the same starting line-up from the World Cup final win over France as they looked dominant from the start
Following his debut, Messi made just eight more appearances for the first team that season.
But his family could not join him in Brazil for the Copa due to COVID-19 restrictions, so he found the next best way to celebrate with them -- a video call!
Emma Hayes, who led Chelsea to the 2021 Champions League final, is joined on The Best FIFA Women's Coach shortlist by England manager Sarina Wiegman and Canada coach Beverly Priestman.
Many flocked to Buenos Aires's tattoo parlors to commission designs depicting Lionel Messi.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi is not thinking about his international future beyond next year's Copa America, where he will try to lead the country to a second successive continental title at the tournament in the United States.
The Barcelona striker has won the FIFA World Player of the Year a record six times and is widely considered one of the greatest players ever to play the game, alongside Pele and countryman Diego Maradona. But his inability to win an international title with Argentina always left an asterisk beside his name on the all-time greats list.
Lionel Messi kept his dream of winning his first World Cup alive by rifling in the opening goal in Saturday's 2-0 victory over Mexico in World Cup Group C, proving he was far from done in the tournament.
Messi's image is everywhere, adorning the sides of buildings.
'I feel very happy, to be able to achieve this, to finish my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final'
The plane was heading to Tenerife, Spain but was grounded at Zaventem at 9:10am on Friday due to a technical issue.
Not only the senior team but the young Blue Colts also emerged victorious in the SAFF Men's U-19 champions after hammering Pakistan in the final and clinching a vigorous 3-0 victory.
Messi's World Cup chase takes centre stage in quarter-final clash
Argentina came out on top over France in the FIFA World Cup 2022 final at Lusail by 4-2 on penalties after both teams finished 3-3 at extra time.
Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first footballer to reach billionaire status, according to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which has valued the Portugal great's net worth at an estimated $1.4 billion.
Jude Bellingham topped the men's overall voting, with the Real Madrid and England midfielder receiving 11,176 selections from his peers.
They weren't up for a windfall even after the trophy but life was certain to get a lot better as some sponsors and state governments stepped up to lift them financially.
Messi's contract with Barcelona is set to come to an end this season
Lionel Messi won his 100th Argentina cap when he started the Copa America Group B match against Jamaica on Saturday.
Chinese sporting authorities have cancelled next month's friendly international between Argentina and Nigeria amid a growing backlash against Lionel Messi's failure to play in an Inter Miami match in Hong Kong last week.
Vinicius Jr's remarkable performances at Real Madrid have put the 24-year-old forward as the odds-on favourite to claim his first Ballon d'Or when the award for the best player in the world is announced in Paris on Monday.
Argentina striker Lionel Messi will leave Barcelona despite both parties having reached an agreement over a new contract, the La Liga club said on Thursday, citing economic and structural obstacles to the renewal of deal.
Scenes from the champion team's homecoming...
