Argentina and Inter Miami maestro Lionel Messi has won the TIME magazine Athlete Of The Year for 2023.
The Albiceleste (Sky Blue) captain Lionel Messi guided his national to a third FIFA World Cup victory in December 2022.
He was adjudged the best player of the tournament as his seven goals and three assists were pivotal to the Lionel Scaloni led side clinching the title.
Messi won the Man of the Match award a record breaking five times at the Mundial.
He also won the French Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain scoring 21 goals and notching 20 assists in 41 games in all competitions.
His 16 assists was the highest in the French League and he was given the French Ligue 1 playmaker of the year award.
In the summer of 2023 he made a transfer move from Paris Saint-Germain to United States of America team Inter Miami following the expiration of his contract at the Parisian team.
He led Inter Miami to their first ever trophy which the Leagues Cup after joining the clubside.
Read Also: Osho, Elijah Goals Not Enough As Arsenal Edge Luton In Seven-Goal Thriller
He was joined at Inter Miami by many of his former teammates at Laliga club Barcelona such as Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Luis Suarez too has struck a deal to join the team in January.
According to time.com, all the above accolades guaranteed Messi the award.
Messi scored one goal and provided two assists in six games during the 2023 Major League Soccer (MLS) season.
He recently clinched the Ballon d’Or award for the 8th time in October. No other contender has won it up to six times.
He has netted three goals in five games for Argentina in the South American zone of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series.
Argentina are top of the log with 15 points obtained from six games so far.
