Messi Captures The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award Amid Stellar 2023 Season
The International Football Federation announced that the Best award for the year goes to Lionel Messi, the iconic forward from the Argentina national team who also stars for Inter Miami in the United States. The honor recognizes the player judged to have delivered the most outstanding performance over the past twelve months, combining individual brilliance with team impact on the field. Fans and analysts in North America and beyond followed the ceremony closely as Messi added another major milestone to a career built on consistency and moments of genius (source: FIFA official announcement).
Joining Messi in the final shortlist were two other elite attackers: Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain, a French forward who has repeatedly pushed the benchmarks of speed and technique, and Erling Haaland of Manchester City, a Norwegian striker known for his clinical finishing and goal-scoring streaks. This trio represented a high-octane trio of contention, each bringing a distinct style that has shaped modern football in the 2020s. Prior to this win, Messi had already claimed the FIFA Footballer of the Year award on two occasions, underscoring his enduring influence on the global game (perspective: FIFA ceremony coverage).
Messi did not attend the awards ceremony in person, a detail that sparked discussion among observers and fans. Initial reports suggested by DSports pointed to the voting outcome not favoring Messi as the reason for his absence, though spectators and pundits noted that non-attendance can be influenced by schedule, travel, and strategic considerations rather than the result alone (commentary attributed to sources close to the event).
Messi’s club career in recent years has been marked by bold moves and record-breaking performances. After two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain, he made a high-profile switch to Inter Miami in the summer of 2023. His impact in the American league quickly became evident. On August 20 of the previous year, Messi helped Inter Miami win the Leagues Cup, securing the first major trophy of his career in North America and signaling a successful adaptation to MLS competition. Through his first 14 appearances for Inter Miami, he recorded 11 goals and 5 assists, a testament to his continued ability to influence games at any level. With MLS on a seasonal pause before the next campaign, discussions around Messi’s form, leadership, and long-term impact on the sport in the United States continued to resonate with fans and analysts alike (MLS season previews and Inter Miami coverage).
October brought another triumph as Messi collected his eighth Ballon d’Or, further extending a collection that already reads like a history of modern football excellence. The Ballon d’Or, voted by journalists, remains a barometer of individual excellence across leagues and national teams, and Messi’s eighth edition situates him among the most decorated players in football history (athletic achievement summaries and award histories).
Looking back at 2022, Messi had already become a world champion with Argentina, adding a fifth major international trophy to his accolades in the process. The World Cup title, achieved in December 2022, marked a landmark moment in his career. In that tournament, Messi delivered seven goals across seven matches, with four of those goals coming from penalties, underscoring his ability to perform under pressure on the world stage. This success not only highlighted his leadership on the pitch but also reinforced Argentina’s status as a perennial contender in global football and enriched Messi’s already storied legacy (World Cup performance summaries and national team records).
In sum, the year confirmed Messi’s continued relevance at the pinnacle of football. The Best award reflected a combination of domestic league influence, international competition impact, and a career-long capacity to produce memorable moments. The award season celebrated not just one player’s achievements but the enduring appeal of a player who has become a global icon and a symbol of excellence for fans across the Americas and around the world. This narrative remains a reminder that great players can redefine a league, inspire teammates, and leave an enduring imprint on the sport’s history (season summaries and retrospective analyses).