Argentina and Inter Miami star Lionel Messi has been named the 2023 The Best FIFA Men’s Player.
Messi was announced the winner of the award at a ceremony in London on Monday.
The Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup winner topped the vote ahead of fellow finalists Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
He had previously won the award in 2019 and 2022.
He becomes the first footballer to win the award three times.
The 36-year-old has now surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski who have both won it twice.
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However, the former Barcelona and PSG Star was not present at the party as he was with his Inter Miami teammates preparing for a pre-season friendly against El Salvador on Friday.
The Best FIFA Football Awards are usually based on performances across a calendar year – unlike the Ballon d’Or, which judges players on their achievements over the course of a season.
However, FIFA’s selection criteria for the 2023 men’s awards was achievements during the period from December 19, 2022 to August 20, 2023.
In the women’s category the award went to Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí.
Other recipients saw Pep Guardiola named The Best FIFA Men’s Coach, FIFA Women’s Coach Award went to Sarina Wiegman, Ederson won Best Men Goalkeeper award and Mary Earps was named Best Women’s Goalkeeper.
The FIFA Fair Play Award went to the Brazil Senior Men’s National Team Players and the FIFA Fan Award went to the Club Atletico Colon fan.
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