Lionel Messi pips Erling Haaland to win FIFA Men's Best Player’s Award for third time

In addition to a long list, Lionel Messi added one more weather to his list of accolades when he won the FIFA Best Men's Player for 2023 on Monday at a function in London. Messi pipped Manchester United's Erling Haaland to win this award for the third time. 

The accolade covered the duration following Messi's guidance of Argentina to World Cup triumph from December 2022 to August 2023. Throughout this period, the eight-time Ballon d'Or recipient experienced a subdued end to his tenure at Paris Saint-Germain, despite securing the Ligue 1 title. 

Subsequently, he transitioned to MLS side Inter Miami in June. Messi once again shined in the United League where he guided the Inter Miami team, partly owned by David Beckham to a Leagues Cup victory in August. 

This year, everyone thought Erling Haaland would take the top prize for the Best Player as he scored a whopping 52 goals in his first season with Manchester City, and they even won all three major trophies. Lionel Messi, Haaland's old teammate at Barcelona, actually won the award! Even though they got the same number of points in a special voting system, Messi got more first-place votes from important people like national team captains and journalists. 

Kylian Mbappé, another amazing player, came in third. However, none of the top three guys even showed up to the ceremony. So, Thierry Henry, a famous French player, had to pick up the award for Messi.

Aitana Bonmatí won the Best Fifa women’s player award

It was an event styled more as a celebration of the women's game and Aitana Bonmatí won the title of the Best Fifa women’s player for 2023. After winning the award Bonmatí said, "A couple of weeks ago I was nostalgic for an exceptional and unique year, but starting this year collecting this award I feel very proud." 

“I owe this to Barça, to the national team, I owe it to the great season that we’ve played. I’d like to thank my teammates, without all of you I wouldn’t be here. I’d also like to say I am proud to be part of a powerful generation of women who are changing the game and the world,” concluded Bonmatí.