Following a ceremony held by the World Football governing body in London on Monday, Argentina and Inter Miami player Lionel Messi has been named FIFA Best Men’s Player for 2023.
The 36-year-old clinched the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 before moving to Major League Soccer team Inter Miami, where he won the 2023 Leagues Cup – a competition between MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX sides – scoring 10 goals.
Messi beat Haaland to the award despite the Norwegian winning the treble at Man City as he scored 30 goals in all competitions in the period after the World Cup and before August 20, 2023.
PSG striker Kylian Mbappe finished third in the voting with none of the three finalists in attendance at the awards ceremony in London at that night.
Meanwhile, Spanish and FC Barcelona Femeni superstar Aitana Bonmati was named The Best FIFA Women’s Player of the Year for the Year 2023. This was due after she lead Spain to their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia last summer.
It was an all-City defence made up of John Stones, Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias, while Erling Haaland – scorer of 52 goals in the 2022/23 season – was named in attack, alongside Lionel Messi, voted Best Men’s Player, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois completed the team, although City’s Ederson won the Best Men’s Goalkeeper award.
Manchester City gaffer Pep Guardiola wins The Best Men’s Coach for 2023. England and Manchester United shot-stopper Mary Earps emerges The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper for 2023 as England Women’s manager Sarina Weigman ws named the Best Women’s Coach of the Year.
