Messi wins FIFA Best Men’s Player 2023 award in a close contest with Haaland and Mbappe

Lionel Messi has been crowned the Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year for 2023, beating out fellow nominees Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe in a tight race.

The award ceremony, held in London on January 15, 2024, saw Messi come out on top after a thrilling year in which he led Argentina to the World Cup title and continued to shine for both PSG and Inter Miami.

The voting for the award was incredibly close, with Messi and Haaland finishing in a tie for first place. The tie was eventually broken by the votes of national team captains, which gave the edge to Messi.

The voting breakdown revealed that Messi won the public vote, the national team captains’ vote, and the media vote, while Haaland won the coaches’ vote.

Messi’s win is his third time receiving the prestigious award, having previously won in 2019 and 2022.

The 36-year-old Argentinean continues to defy the odds and cement his legacy as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.

In other news, Messi’s victory was not without controversy. Some fans and analysts were surprised to see Haaland, who had a phenomenal season with Manchester City, miss out on the top spot.

Haaland scored an incredible 52 goals in 53 matches in all competitions in 2023, including 36 goals in the Premier League, a single-season record.

Despite the close race and the debate surrounding the winner, there is no doubt that both Messi and Haaland had incredible years and are deserving of recognition.

The Best FIFA Men’s Player award is a testament to their skill, dedication, and impact on the beautiful game.