Lionel Messi has been crowned The Best FIFA men’s player of the year.
The 36-year-old Argentine picked up the individual honour ahead of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe during the award ceremony held in London on Monday night.
The latest accolade is the third FIFA best award for the diminutive Argentine –following similar triumphs in 2019 and 2022. He is also the first player to reach the milestone.
Messi beat Haaland to the award despite the Norwegian winning the treble at Man City as he scored 30 goals in all competitions in the period after the World Cup and before August 20, 2023.
Messi was however conspicuously absent at the awards ceremony. He is on pre-season tour with his club Inter Miami.
Messi won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina. While he could not helped Inter Miami to their first trophy in the club’s history.
The 36-year-old clinched the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 before moving to Major League Soccer team Inter Miami, where he won the 2023 Leagues Cup – a competition between MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX sides – scoring 10 goals.
In other awards of the night, Pep Guardiola won the men’s coach of the year award after securing a treble with Manchester City.
Six Man City players were also named in the Best XI.
