Lionel Messi has been crowned winner of 2023 FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year after his standout campaign for club and country, LCSoccerHub Reports.
It was the sixth time the Inter Milan forward has clinched the award after winning it on five previous occasions. Messi first won FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year in 2009, and went on to become the first player to win it on four successive occasions in 2010, 2011, and 2012. He added the fifth to his kits in 2015.
Messi is crowned #TheBest! 👑🇦🇷
Click here for more information. ➡️ https://t.co/niVRuFY4lP pic.twitter.com/krIyrtkexL
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) January 15, 2024
As per FIFA.com, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland of Manchester City were tied on the same number of points (48) on the award ranking but the tie was broken by Messi’s higher number of first-choice nominations by national teams.
Kylian Mbappe of PSG and France national team came third on the ranking with 35 points.
Lionel Messi deserved the award for his magnificent and unprecedented sail with PSG and France in 2023.
Lionel Messi helped PSG to Ligue 1 triumph in 2023, his second successive Ligue 1 crown with the French champions. He finished the season with the most assists than any Ligue 1 player.
🔝👟 Congratulations to Leo Messi, best passer of the season in #Ligue1!#HistoryIsMadeInParis pic.twitter.com/Vbo5Vt7rig
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) June 3, 2023
After leading Argentina to 2022 World Cup glory, Lionel Messi got off to a bang on his international career, recording his 100th international goal with a 7-0 win over Curacao. He has led the Selecao to emerge top of South America 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.
Messi left PSG when his two years contract expired taking his career across to the Atlantic with MLS side Inter Miami. The 36-year-old created an instant impact in Inter Miami, scoring a sensational freekick goal in the final touch of the game.
LIONEL ANDRÉS MESSI IS NOT HUMAN. pic.twitter.com/2mBDI41mLy
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 22, 2023
He would went on to win Inter Miami’s first ever silverware – the Leagues Cup trophy. Despite his on-field heroics for the Herons, Inter Miami still missed out of MLS playoff but it was indeed a groundbreaking start to life for Leo.
He was tipped to win the award after he fended off competition from his former PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe and Manchester City and Norwegian sensation Erling Haaland to win his record-extending 8th Ballon d’Or title.