Unexpectedly, Lionel Messi Defies ‘Favourite’ to Win the Title of Best FIFA Men’s Player Erling Haaland

At the London awards presentation on Monday, Lionel Messi was controversially named as FIFA’s best men’s player for 2023, while Aitana Bonmati added further individual honors to her collection. Messi won the trophy for the third time, but on an incredible evening for Manchester City, the 36-year-old emerged as the unexpected winner ahead of Erling Haaland. The period from August 2023 to December 2022, after Messi’s lead Argentina to World Cup victory, was the only one covered by the award.

Despite winning Ligue 1, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had a quiet finish to his career at Paris Saint-Germain at that period. In June, he joined Inter Miami of the Major League Soccer.

Messi established himself in the United States quite fast 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, when the English team won the FA Cup, the Premier League, and the Champions League, Haaland was the clear favorite to win.

Messi was declared the winner despite having the same amount of points from a scoring system that was determined by the votes of national team leaders, coaches, journalists, and supporters because there were more first-choice nominations.

Messi’s old club colleague Kylian Mbappe placed third.

But none of the three men’s finalists showed up for the ceremony, so Thierry Henry—who was also co-hosting the event—picked up the trophy in Messi’s place. Henry is a star from Arsenal and France.

‘Powerful generation of women’

After assisting Spain in winning the World Cup and Barcelona in the Champions League in 2023, Bonmati accomplished a perfect sweep of personal honors, making her nomination as the greatest women’s player unquestionable.

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 at 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,” Bonmati remarked.

“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.

“We’re here because we won a lot and the thousands of people involved in our success,” Guardiola said.

“I’m really grateful for the season we had; it was an amazing adventure. We succeeded in the end, but it was such a great joy to be there.”

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 goalkeeper of the year went to City’s Ederson, while women’s goalkeeper 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.

The squad of the year had seven female English players: Ella Toone, Keira Walsh, Alessia Russo, Lauren James, Lucy Bronze, and Earps.

Alongside Bonmati, the only other Spaniard picked was Olga Carmona, who scored the game-winning goal in the World Cup final. Other Spanish players invited were Australia’s Sam Kerr and American sensation Alex Morgan.

The Brazilian men’s squad earned the fair play award when they debuted an all-black uniform as a show of solidarity for Vinicius, a forward who was subjected to racial taunts during his time playing for Real Madrid in 2018.

Guilherme Madruga of Botafogo, a Brazilian, also won the Puskas award for best goal, thanks to his incredible overhead kick.