Inter Miami and Argentina star Lionel Messi has been named as the FIFA Best Male Player in the World, beating Manchester City’s Erling Haaland to the crown by the thinnest of margins.
This is the third time Messi, 36, has won the FIFA Best Award since this format was introduced in 2016. He previously won the award in 2019 and 2022.
While the FIFA Best Awards are usually based on performances over a calendar year, on this occasion it covered the period December 19, 2022 to August 20, 2023, as the Qatar World Cup was included in last year’s awards. It is also distinct to the Ballon d’Or, which also names a footballer of the year, and which Messi has won eight times.
The awards are voted for by national team managers and captains, journalists and fans on the FIFA website. Each of the four count for 25% of the votes.
Messi and Haaland were tied on points when the votes had been totted up, but Messi was declared the winner as he had more first-place nominations from national team captains. Paris St-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe was third.
Messi started the year at PSG, where his nine goals helped the club to yet another Ligue Un title. After his move to the US, he scored 10 goals in seven games as Inter Miami won the inaugural Leagues Cup.
Haaland, meanwhile, plundered 30 Premier League goals during the qualifying period, helping his Manchester City side to the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.
Elsewhere, Pep Guardiola took the coach of the year title, in recognition of his Manchester City side winning the treble. Luciano Spalletti of Napoli and Simone Inzaghi of Inter Milan were second and third.
Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson took the best goalkeeper award – although, oddly, he wasn’t named in the team of the year.
The men’s team of the year was: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), John Stones, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva (all Manchester City), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland (both Manchester City), Kylian Mbappe (Paris St-Germain), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) and Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid).
The FIFA best women’s award winner was Spain and Barcelona midfield star Aitana Bonmati, while England’s Mary Earps won the best goalkeeper award for the second year in a row. Earps’ international manager, Sarina Weigman, took the best coach award.
