Argentina superstar Lionel Messi won the Best FIFA Men’s Player Award for the 3rd time in the last 4 years, edging past Norwegian striker Erling Haaland in a closely-contested race. Spain and Barcelona striker Aitana Bonmati walked away with the Best FIFA Women’s Player Award at The Best FIFA Awards, a star-studded ceremony in London.
Messi and Haaland were tied on 48 points each in the FIFA rating system for the Award. However, the Argentina captain won the Award, thanks to more votes from national team captains. The best awards are decided after votes from national team captains, coaches, journalists and fans are counted.
According to the FIFA rules, If finalists were tied on points, the individual with the most first-choice selections from their own group of voters (Captains in this case) would be declared the winner.
Manchester City’s treble-winning coach Pep Guardiola won the Best Men’s Manager of 2023 award while England coach Sarina Wiegman claimed the women’s best coach award for a record-extending fourth time. Guardiola beat Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi and and Napoli’s Luciano Spalletti to the honour.
Manchester City stopper Ederson won the Best Men’s Goalkeeper award while Mary Earps, the Manchester United and England No. 1, won the Women’s award in the ceremony in London.
Messi won the Best Player Award in 2022 for his exploits in leading the Argentina men’s team to World Cup glory in Qatar. Messi was once again in the race after having won the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain and his role in helping Inter Miami win the Leagues Cup in his inaugural season in Major League Soccer.