Argentine football icon Lionel Messi bagged the Best FIFA Men’s 2023 award on Tuesday, triumphing over Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe to claim the top spot.
Having clinched his eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023, the Inter Miami player has now become the first to win the award while playing in Major League Soccer (MLS), marking his third time receiving this prestigious accolade.
None of the top three players, Messi, Mbappe, and Haalad, attended the ceremony in London. Messi opted to stay in Miami for their first preseason game of the 2024 campaign.
Messi opted to stay in Miami for Inter Miami’s first preseason game of the 2024 campaign. Inter Miami is set to kick off their 2024 MLS season against Salt Lake on February 22. Prior to that, they will face Al Nassr in a friendly match on February 1, featuring the anticipated showdown between the Argentine and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 36-year-old bid farewell to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2023 and joined the MLS side as a free transfer. During his stint with Miami, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner netted 11 goals in 14 appearances. Before making the move to the U.S., Messi secured the Ligue 1 title with PSG in 2023 and went on to win the 2023 Leagues Cup with Inter Miami, scoring 10 goals in the competition that pits MLS teams against Mexico’s Liga MX sides.
Meanwhile, Spanish player Aitana Bonmati clinched the Best FIFA Women’s Player 2023 on Tuesday. The 25-year-old, playing for FC Barcelona, achieved success in 2023 by securing three major titles, including the UEFA Women’s Champions League, Liga F, and Supercopa de Espana Femenina.
(Inputs from ANI)