Lionel Messi finally wins first player of the month in France as GOAT rival Cristiano Ronaldo’s career hits horrific low

LIONEL MESSI has finally clinched his first Ligue 1 player of the month award.

The Argentine, 35, has been sensational for Paris Saint-Germain so far this season, contributing nine goals and 10 assists in all competitions.

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And in September he managed three assists and a goal in the league, netting the winner in a 1-0 win over Lyon.

It has seen him pick up the player of the month accolade, with Get French Football News reporting he received 58 per cent of the vote from the players’ union.

He beat Lorient’s Dango Ouattara and Lille’s Jonathan David to scoop the honour.

Messi’s heroics come after a supreme August in which he was also nominated for the award.

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But on that occasion it went to his fellow PSG team-mate Neymar.

The superstar trio of Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have clicked to devastating effect this season.

Just two months into the Ligue 1 campaign, they already have 43 goal contributions between them.

Mbappe and Messi – who struggled somewhat during his first season with the French outfit – linked for all three of PSG’s goals in their 3-0 win over Ajaccio on Friday night.

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It included a breathtaking combination between the pair as they exchanged an incredible one-two before Messi sat the keeper down and tapped into an empty net.

Meanwhile, Messi’s rival to the “greatest of all-time” tag, Cristiano Ronaldo, is going through a torrid time at Manchester United.

The Portuguese star, 37, has netted just twice in 12 appearances in the 2022/23 campaign.

And he refused to come off the bench during the Red Devils’ 2-0 victory over Spurs on Wednesday.

This has subsequently seen him dropped for United’s blockbuster Premier League clash with Chelsea on Saturday evening.