Lionel Messi wins the Best FIFA Men’s Award, beating out Erling Haaland.
On Monday, Lionel Messi claimed his third FIFA The Best award for men. He beat out Erling Haaland of Manchester City and Kylian Mbappé of Paris Saint-Germain to win the award.
Messi led Argentina to victory in the World Cup in Qatar on December 19, 2022. The award was set to be given between that date and August 20, 2023.
He scored five goals in three games for the national team during the voting time. He is now getting ready for the return of Major League Soccer this year.
The award mostly went to Messi for his work at PSG as well as Inter Miami. He helped the French giants win a different Ligue 1 title before going to the MLS in July and leading Miami towards their first-ever prize, the Leagues Cup.
Messi helped Argentina win all six of their games in CONMEBOL’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying draw, putting them at the top of the table. It’s possible that Messi wasn’t in London to accept the award.
FIFA says that the three award winners were chosen with help from “football stakeholders,” and shortlists were chosen by two different groups of past players and coaches.
There were then votes from the media, fans, national team leaders, and managers to choose the winner.
Messi has won this award three times; the first time was in 2019 and the second time was last year. He has also won an amazing eight coveted awards.
Messi had a crazy 2023. In the first half, he earned the French Premier League for a second time. However, fans booed him in his last games after they lost in the round of 16 of the Champions League for the second time in a row.
Lionel Messi keeps winning awards for himself even though he plays for MLS team Inter Miami. He was named The Best FIFA Masculine Player for 2023 so far.
Messi beat Erling Haaland of Manchester City, who scored an amazing 52 goals in a treble-winning season, and Kylian Mbappe, who used to play for PSG.
He left after his deal in the summer and joined MLS team Inter Miami, even though a return to Barcelona was being talked about. He played on the team that won a Leagues Cup and scored 11 goals in 14 games for his new team.
Many people thought Haaland would win the award because he had such a great year in 2023, winning the Treble with Pep Guardiola in the inaugural season at the Etihad Stadium.
This player is an important part of both her club’s and her country’s success. She praised her teammates and said, “It’s been an amazing and unique calendar year that I will remember over the rest of my life.”
This is because of the teams I play for, like Barcelona and my country one on my team, would have put me here to accept these awards. My family and friends are the only people who have ever been there for me and never let me down.
“I want to congratulate all the nominees or say that I am proud of being part of a powerful generation of women who are altering the rules of the game.”