Lionel Messi narrowly beats Erling Haaland to win FIFA Best Men’s Player award

Lionel Messi emerged as the winner of the FIFA Best Men's Player award, narrowly beating Erling Haaland by the slimmest of margins. The fierce competition saw both players receiving the same number of points, as revealed by FIFA. The decision was made by national team players and captains, journalists, and fans who voted on FIFA’s website, with each group accounting for 25% of the total votes.

The men’s award, for the second consecutive year, went to Messi, while Aitana Bonmati, the Spanish and Barcelona star, won the women’s prize. Messi, despite not having the opportunity to showcase his talents in Argentina‘s successful 2022 World Cup campaign, managed to secure his third victory. In his vote, Messi chose Haaland as his top pick, followed by his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe, and fellow countryman Julian Alvarez, who plays for Manchester City.

Mbappe, who finished third overall, also voted for Messi as his first choice, along with Haaland. Surprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo did not feature in the Men’s Best XI and did not cast a vote. Instead, his Portuguese teammate Pepe took on the responsibility. Pepe’s top three choices were Bernardo Silva, Haaland, and Victor Osimhen.

Notably, Gareth Southgate, the England manager, excluded Messi from his top three picks. He opted for an all-City trio, consisting of Haaland, Rodri, and Silva. However, Harry Kane, the England captain, had Messi as his number one choice.

The final voting numbers have now been released, revealing that Messi and Haaland tied with 48 points. In such cases of a tie, the award is given to the player who received more votes from national team captains. In this instance, Messi had the advantage over Haaland in that criterion.

This FIFA Best Men’s Player award ceremony was a remarkable evening for Manchester City. Pep Guardiola won the men’s coach of the year accolade, while Ederson was named the best men’s goalkeeper. Additionally, six Manchester City players – John Stones, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Kevin de Bruyne, and Haaland – were included in the Men’s Fifpro XI. Alex Greenwood, who had a fantastic season for club and country, secured a spot in the Women’s Fifpro XI.

All in all, it was an exciting night that celebrated the best of the game. Aitana Bonmati’s triumph as the best women’s player was well-deserved, as she displayed exceptional technical skills and played a prominent role in Spain‘s World Cup victory and Barcelona’s memorable treble.

“It’s been an incredible and unique year that I will remember for the rest of my life. I owe this to the team that I play with them: Barcelona and the national team. Without my teammates I would not be here picking up these awards. I will always be thankful to those who have not failed me: my family and my friends. I want to congratulate all the nominees and say that I am proud of being part of a powerful generation of women who are changing the rules,” expressed Bonmati.