Messi caused controversy when he won the FIFA The Best award for the third time – Photo: AFP

FIFA has awarded Messi three times in total. He had already taken home this championship in 2019 and 2022. The European press said that Messi’s victory this year was incredibly unexpected.

It is argued that because this award is computed over the period of time from December 19, 2022 to August 20, 2023, Manchester City attacker Erling Haaland should have received a larger payout. Haaland, a youthful striker, had a “special campaign” with Manchester City during that time, scoring 52 goals to help the English team win the FA Cup, the Premier League, and the Champions League.

Messi’s accomplishment, meanwhile, is limited to helping Argentina win the 2022 World Cup championship on December 18, 2022. Furthermore, Messi received the FIFA The Best 2022 award as a mark of honor. After that, even if he and Paris Saint-Germain won the Ligue 1 title, it was not significant enough for him to take home the prize this year.

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Newspapers Goal.com and Forbes in ​​unison Call this Messi’s controversial victory.

The newspaper Forbes wrote: “A controversial victory for Messi. While everyone expected to see Erling Haaland win after a successful year with Manchester City, the Norwegian once again finished behind Lionel Messi”.

In contrast, Bonmati’s choice as the best female player in the women’s competition was not as contentious because she had won individual honors for her role in the Spanish team’s World Cup victory. and in 2023 won the women’s UEFA Champions League with Barcelona. Bonmati has already won the Golden Ball.