Once again, Lionel Messi secured ‘The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2023’, successfully defending the honor he attained in 2022. Lionel Messi achieved his third win of ‘The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award’, becoming the first footballer to gain this milestone. The confirmation of his 2023 victory took place at The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony in London on Monday (15th January 2024). Although the legend was not present at the event due to preparations for a pre-season friendly with his Inter Miami teammates. Messi’s outstanding achievements were acknowledged where he emerged as the top choice in the voting, surpassing finalists Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
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In a tightly contested poll, Messi triumphed, where the 2022 World Cup winner and Norway international Haaland shared 48 scoring points. The tiebreaker, based on the number of first-choice nominations Messi received from national team captains, as outlined in the Rules of Allocation (article 12), ultimately determined the winner. French striker Mbappe secured the third position with 35 points.
‘The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award 2023’
Here are the results of ‘The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award 2023’-
Messi’s 2022 World Cup Impact
The FIFA’s selection criteria for the 2023 men’s awards were centered on achievements during the period from December 19, 2022, to August 20, 2023. Despite this, it’s evident that Messi’s stellar performance at Qatar 2022, where he contributed seven goals and three assists in Argentina’s successful seven-game campaign, likely influenced many voters. Throughout the official judgment period for the 2023 award, Messi netted nine goals in 21 games for Paris Saint-Germain before making a move to Miami in July last year.
This victory marked Messi’s eighth individual award, adding to his previous wins in 2019 and his recognition by FIFA as the leading player in the men’s game in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015. He is the only player to win the Ballon d’Or eight times and the European Golden Shoe six times. Lionel Messi also won the 2022 World Cup with his national team and now plays for Inter Miami.
Determining FIFA’s Best Men Player
The determination of The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award winner involved a 12-player shortlist, with voters ranking their top three choices and assigning points accordingly (five for first, three for second, and one for third). National team captains abstained from voting for themselves, and the overall vote comprised 25% from each of the four groups: coaches, captains, journalists, and fans. The recipient of The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award was the individual with the highest accumulated points. In the event of a tie, the winner was decided based on the candidate with the most first-choice selections from their respective voting group. The entire voting process was overseen by independent observers.
Here are the names and scoring points of the shortlisted 12 players of 2023;
The Previous Best FIFA Men’s Player Award Winners
The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023: The Winners
Here is the list of every winner of The Best FIFA Football Awards, including the FIFA Puskás Award, the FIFA Fan Award, and the FIFA Fair Play Award;
Short Profile of The Best FIFA Men’s Player Winner (Lionel Messi)
Lionel Messi, the renowned Argentine football player, achieved significant milestones throughout his illustrious career. He secured his place as one of the greatest players in the sport, lifting the 2022 World Cup with Argentina and currently playing for Inter Miami.
Messi spent the majority of his professional career at Barcelona, winning numerous accolades, including four UEFA Champions League titles. He holds the record for being the all-time top goal scorer in La Liga and has won multiple Ballon d’Or and European Golden Shoe awards.
In his international career, Messi led Argentina to victory in the 2021 Copa America, breaking a trophy drought. He also secured a career-defining World Cup triumph in 2022, becoming the tournament’s top scorer, and assist provider, and winning the Golden Ball.
After leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, Messi joined MLS side Inter Miami, contributing to their success in winning the 2023 Leagues Cup. A global football icon, Messi has been sponsored by Adidas and has achieved significant financial success, becoming the second football player to surpass $1 billion in career earnings in 2020.
Conclusion
In a historic moment at The Best FIFA Men’s Football Awards 2023, Lionel Messi secured his third consecutive ‘The Best FIFA Men’s Player’ title, an unprecedented achievement. Despite his absence at the ceremony, Messi’s exceptional performance in the 2022 World Cup and subsequent contributions with Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami solidified his standing. This victory adds to his remarkable career, marking his eighth individual award and further establishing him as one of football’s all-time greats.
