Lionel Messi is 'taking over France' after winning Champions of Champion award

Lionel Messi has won a prestigious award for the first in his legendary career following his World Cup triumph with Argentina.

Messi steered his national team to World Cup glory in Qatar, starring in the tournament as he was named the best player.

And he's won ANOTHER award following his heroics at the World Cup courtesy of French outlet L'Equipe.

The 35-year-old has taken home the Champions of Champion award, beating the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Max Verstappen and Stephen Curry.

The Paris Saint-Germain superstar topped the list ahead of his club colleague Mbappe, with a staggering 808 points.

Lionel Messi plants a kiss on the World Cup. Image: Alamy

Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final and won the Golden Boot, finished runner-up with 381 points, ahead of Rafael Nadal who scored 285 points.

Cyclist Remco Evenepoel and F1 champion Verstappen sit in fourth and fifth respectively, while Karim Benzema is ranked sixth.

Pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, basketball player Curry, rugby union player Antoine Dupont and swimmer David Popovici make up the top ten.

1. Lionel Messi - 808pts

2. Kylian Mbappe - 381pts

3. Rafael Nadal - 285pts

4. Remco Evenepoel - 252pts

5. Max Verstappen - 196pts

6. Karim Benzema - 195pts

7. Armand Duplantis - 185pts

8. Stephen Curry - 139pts

9. Antoine Dupont - 105pts

10. David Popovici - 98pts

Messi, meanwhile, has returned to PSG and is expected to make his first club appearance since the World Cup against Angers on January 11.

Speaking ahead of PSG's cup clash against Chateauroux on Friday, Christophe Galtier revealed: "He will not play tomorrow. Having discussed with him, we want him to be ready for the following game (against Angers in Ligue 1).

"We knew there would be absences after the World Cup. As for Neymar's absence in training, it had been scheduled after all players were assessed upon their return from the World Cup."