The Barcelona forward has his sights set of emerging victorious when the winner is announced in London next month, though he is aware that both Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar will provide stiff competition.
The Argentine star is looking to win the award for the first time in its current format. Messi won the award previously back in 2009 when it was known as 'FIFA World Player of the Year' and four times between 2010 and 2015 when it was combined with the Ballon d'Or to become the 'FIFA Ballon d'Or'.
Having seen Cristiano Ronaldo get the better of him last year, Messi will be loath to let that happen again.
Despite a disappointing season for Barca which saw them knocked out of the Champions League by eventual runners-up Juventus and pipped to the La Liga title by arch-rivals Real Madrid, leaving just the Copa Del Rey as their only silverware of note, Messi enjoyed a fine season on a perosnal level, finishing as the top goalscorer in Europe with 54 goals in all competitions.
That was Messi's fourth European Golden Boot of his career and the 30-year-old has carried his form into this season, having scored 12 in his first eight games of the new campaign.
Will Messi be the man picking up 'The Best' award next month at the London Palladium?