Lionel Messi clinched The Best FIFA Men’s Player title in a captivating photo finish, narrowly surpassing Manchester City’s Norwegian striker, Erling Haaland, during a ceremony held in London on Monday. The other finalist in contention was Paris Saint-Germain’s dynamic French forward, Kylian Mbappe.
The prestigious award, acknowledging excellence in the men’s game from December 19, 2022, to August 20, 2023, marked Messi’s third triumph, having previously secured the honour in 2019 and 2022. In a remarkable turn of events, both Messi and Haaland amassed 48 points, while Mbappe garnered 35 points in the final tally.
The voting process is a collaborative effort, with national team coaches, captains, expert journalists, and fans worldwide contributing to the outcome. Each category holds a 25 percent weight in the result. Coaches and captains cast their votes for three players, allocating five points to their top pick, three to the second, and one to the third.
Messi’s victory hinged on securing more first-choice nominations from national men’s team captains, ultimately distinguishing him from Haaland. The Argentine maestro, a 2022 World Cup winner, played a pivotal role in Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 triumph and contributed to Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup victory in his inaugural Major League Soccer season.
Meanwhile, Haaland’s prolific goal-scoring prowess, tallying 52 goals across all competitions, defined a triumphant campaign for Manchester City, securing a treble.
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