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.

The club considers this a statement regarding discipline and a message of zero tolerance towards players who do not show respect for the club, its fans, and communities.

As a consequence of his actions, the 35-year-old Argentine will not feature in any Ligue 1 games over a two-week period from May 2. He will also not participate in squad training sessions during this time.

This means he will not play against at least Troyes, potentially leaving just Ajaccio, Auxerre, Strasbourg, and Clermont as potential opponents before the end of the season.

Messi’s contract with PSG is set to expire this summer, and his absence from the team’s upcoming matches raises questions about his future with the French club. Reports suggest that PSG is unlikely to renew his contract, making this incident potentially his last with the team.

PSG Chairman and CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi considers this disciplinary action against Messi as a part of the culture change away from players who view themselves as bigger than the club.

This change began with Kylian Mbappe’s extended contract last year, and it is expected to continue this summer with Messi’s contract expiration as part of the next step.