Argentina and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has been named men’s Player of the Year at the Best FIFA Awards 2023.
On an otherwise fantastic evening for Manchester City, Messi unexpectedly defeated Erling Haaland to win the Ballon d’Or for a record third time.
The period from August 2023 to December 2022, following Messi’s lead Argentina to World Cup victory, was the only one covered by the award.
Despite winning the League 1 championship, the 36-year-old’s career at Paris Saint-Germain ended quietly before he joined Inter Miami of the Major League Soccer in June.
Messi established himself in the United States very quickly after leading the team—which David Beckham owns a portion of—to their first championship in August, when they won the Leagues Cup.
After scoring 52 goals in his City debut season, where the English team won the FA Cup, the Premier League, and the Champions League, Haaland was the clear favourite to win.
But thanks to more first-choice nominations, Messi emerged victorious despite having the same amount of points from a scoring system based on votes from journalists, fans, coaches, and captains of the national team.
Messi’s former club teammate Kylian Mbappe was third.
Less debate surrounded Bonmati’s choice as the best women’s player because, in 2023, she helped Barcelona win the Champions League and Spain win the World Cup, completing a perfect sweeping of personal honours.
In recent months, the 25-year-old also took home the Ballon d’Or, Golden Ball, and UEFA Player of the Year awards for his performance during the World Cup.
“A couple of weeks ago when 2023 came to an end I was nostalgic because 2023 was an exceptional and unique year I will remember for the rest of my life,” said Bonmati.
“I’m proud of being part of a powerful generation of women who are changing the rules of the game and the world.”
Pep Guardiola led City to its first-ever Champions League victory, earning him the title of best coach.
Five members of Haaland’s club, including Kyle Walker, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, and Kevin De Bruyne, were included in the team of the year.
The eleven were Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, Messi, and Mbappe.
Men’s custodian of the year went to City’s Ederson, while women’s custodian of the year went to Mary Earps of Manchester United and England.
After guiding the Lionesses to the World Cup final, Sarina Wiegman, the manager of the England national team, was awarded women’s coach of the year.
After wearing an all-black shirt for the first time to support forward Vinicius, who experienced multiple instances of racist abuse while playing for Real Madrid last year, the Brazilian men’s team won the fair play award.
Guilherme Madruga of Botafogo, a Brazilian, also won the Puskas award for best goal, thanks to his incredible overhead kick.
Photo by EPA/Juan Ignacio Roncoroni
