In a glittering ceremony in London, Lionel Messi claimed his third men’s player of the year title at the FIFA Best Awards. The Argentine forward, now with Inter Miami, narrowly surpassed the competition, edging out Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and securing a third-place finish for Kylian Mbappe of Paris St-Germain. Messi’s accolade capped off a remarkable year that began with Paris St-Germain, where he contributed nine goals to secure the French Ligue 1 title, before moving to Major League Soccer in June. His impactful performances continued at Inter Miami, where he scored 10 goals in seven games, ultimately clinching the inaugural Leagues Cup in the United States.

On the managerial front, the men’s coach prize went to Pep Guardiola, the mastermind behind Manchester City’s impressive Treble in the 2022-23 season. The awards, determined through a combination of votes from national team managers, captains, journalists, and fans on Fifa’s website, showcased the tight competition between Messi and Haaland, who finished on equal points. Messi’s victory was attributed to receiving more first-place nominations from national team captains, underscoring his enduring impact and recognition within the global football community.

In a glittering ceremony in London, Lionel Messi claimed his third men’s player of the year title at the FIFA Best Awards. The Argentine forward, now with Inter Miami, narrowly surpassed the competition, edging out Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and securing a third-place finish for Kylian Mbappe of Paris St-Germain. Messi’s accolade capped off a remarkable year that began with Paris St-Germain, where he contributed nine goals to secure the French Ligue 1 title, before moving to Major League Soccer in June. His impactful performances continued at Inter Miami, where he scored 10 goals in seven games, ultimately clinching the inaugural Leagues Cup in the United States.

On the managerial front, the men’s coach prize went to Pep Guardiola, the mastermind behind Manchester City’s impressive Treble in the 2022-23 season. The awards, determined through a combination of votes from national team managers, captains, journalists, and fans on Fifa’s website, showcased the tight competition between Messi and Haaland, who finished on equal points. Messi’s victory was attributed to receiving more first-place nominations from national team captains, underscoring his enduring impact and recognition within the global football community.