Lionel Messi was crowned the Men's Player of the Year at The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023 due to votes from national team captains.
Messi won the award for the 3rd time in history, beating Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe to the prestigious prize.
The award is heralded in lots of controversy, with many wondering about the rationale and reason behind the Argentine winning the award.
Anyway, it is important to note some of the national team captains that voted for Lionel Messi based on his performances from December 19, 2022, to August 20, 2023.
Captains of national teams globally voted for the 36-year-old to win the crown and their votes were valued in high esteem.
Egypt's captain, Mohamed Salah voted for Messi alongside the captain of France Kylian Mbappe.
Croatia captain Luka Modric also voted for the Argentine, with England captain Harry Kane and captain of the Netherlands Virgil Van Dijk also toeing the same direction.
Jan Oblak, captain of Slovenia, Robert Lewandowski, captain of Poland, and Gianluigi Donnaruma, captain of Italy all voted for Lionel Messi.
Son Heung-Min - South Korea, Christian Pulisic - United States Of America, Federico Valverde - Uruguay, Romelu Lukaku - Belgium, Andrew Robertson - Scotland, Radamel Falcao - Colombia, Granit Xhaka - Switzerland all handed their votes to the Inter Miami forward.
Messi played for 2 clubs under the period in review, which are: Paris Saint Germain and Inter Miami.
The captain of Argentina had an average season with PSG, winning only the Ligue 1 title within that time frame.
Lionel Messi joined MLS club Inter Miami in July 2023 on a free transfer and he was impressive during the timeframe stipulated.
The 36-year-old was sublime for the club after his arrival in July 2023, helping the club win the Leagues Cup title on August 20, 2023.
He was competing against former teammate Kylian Mbappe alongside Manchester City forward Erling Haaland.
Mbappe won the Ligue 1 title just like Messi and ended 2023 with 52 goals for club and country.
Meanwhile, Erling Haaland won the treble - Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League with Manchester City in the period under review scoring 50 goals for club and country throughout 2023.
Anyway, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland were tied on the same number of votes for The Best FIFA Men's Player 2023 award, and a tiebreaker was needed.
Messi was ultimately announced as the overall winner after receiving more votes than Haaland in the first position from national team captains.
The Argentine is gearing up for his first full season with Inter Miami and he will be hoping to lead them to glory in 2024.
Lionel Messi now has the complement of Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, and he will be hoping for a triumphant year ahead.
The former Barcelona forward also has the Copa America to look forward to in 2024, with Argentina placed in the same group alongside Chile and Peru.
Messi won the award for the 3rd time in history, beating Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe to the prestigious prize.
The award is heralded in lots of controversy, with many wondering about the rationale and reason behind the Argentine winning the award.
Anyway, it is important to note some of the national team captains that voted for Lionel Messi based on his performances from December 19, 2022, to August 20, 2023.
Captains of national teams globally voted for the 36-year-old to win the crown and their votes were valued in high esteem.
Egypt's captain, Mohamed Salah voted for Messi alongside the captain of France Kylian Mbappe.
Croatia captain Luka Modric also voted for the Argentine, with England captain Harry Kane and captain of the Netherlands Virgil Van Dijk also toeing the same direction.
Jan Oblak, captain of Slovenia, Robert Lewandowski, captain of Poland, and Gianluigi Donnaruma, captain of Italy all voted for Lionel Messi.
Son Heung-Min - South Korea, Christian Pulisic - United States Of America, Federico Valverde - Uruguay, Romelu Lukaku - Belgium, Andrew Robertson - Scotland, Radamel Falcao - Colombia, Granit Xhaka - Switzerland all handed their votes to the Inter Miami forward.
Messi played for 2 clubs under the period in review, which are: Paris Saint Germain and Inter Miami.
The captain of Argentina had an average season with PSG, winning only the Ligue 1 title within that time frame.
Lionel Messi joined MLS club Inter Miami in July 2023 on a free transfer and he was impressive during the timeframe stipulated.
The 36-year-old was sublime for the club after his arrival in July 2023, helping the club win the Leagues Cup title on August 20, 2023.
He was competing against former teammate Kylian Mbappe alongside Manchester City forward Erling Haaland.
Mbappe won the Ligue 1 title just like Messi and ended 2023 with 52 goals for club and country.
Meanwhile, Erling Haaland won the treble - Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League with Manchester City in the period under review scoring 50 goals for club and country throughout 2023.
Anyway, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland were tied on the same number of votes for The Best FIFA Men's Player 2023 award, and a tiebreaker was needed.
Messi was ultimately announced as the overall winner after receiving more votes than Haaland in the first position from national team captains.
The Argentine is gearing up for his first full season with Inter Miami and he will be hoping to lead them to glory in 2024.
Lionel Messi now has the complement of Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, and he will be hoping for a triumphant year ahead.
The former Barcelona forward also has the Copa America to look forward to in 2024, with Argentina placed in the same group alongside Chile and Peru.