Explained: How Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi won FIFA The Best award despite finishing with the same points as Man City treble-winner Erling Haaland

Messi beat Haaland and Mbappe to the prize which is voted for by representatives from the media, national team coaches, national team captains and fans. Messi and Haaland both got 48 points, but the prize went to the Inter Miami star because more national team captains voted for him than the Manchester City striker.

Haaland received more votes from national team coaches and media but Messi got more votes from captains and fans. According to FIFA's rules, the tie-breaker for each award depends on the category. Article 12 reads: "In the event of a tie for first place... the player, coach or goalkeeper with the highest number of 'five-point' scores from the votes cast by the nominee’s own group of voters per article 10 (i.e. for men’s players, the votes of men’s national-team captains; for men’s coaches, the votes of men’s national-team coaches; for men’s goalkeepers, the votes of men’s national-team captains; for women’s players, the votes of women’s national-team captains; for women’s coaches, the votes of women’s national-team coaches; and for women’s goalkeepers, the votes of women’s national-team captains) shall be the winner of the relevant Award."

Messi has won FIFA The Best Men's Player award three times now, having previously won it in 2019 and 2022. The World Cup winner's victory comes after a year in which he left Paris Saint-Germain to join Inter Miami and guided the MLS team to their first every trophy - the Leagues Cup. Haaland, meanwhile, helped fire City to the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup titles.

The 2023 prize maybe the final one Messi takes home. Haaland and Mbappe will hope to do even better in 2024 and claim the award for the first time in their careers.