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Messi celebrate Inter Miami 2023Getty
Peter McVitie and Jacob Schneider

Lionel Messi crowned best men’s player of 2023 at FIFA’s The Best awards after beating Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe to top prize

Lionel Messi has been crowned The Best FIFA Men's Player for 2023, beating both Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland to top spot once again.

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  • Lionel Messi wins FIFA award
  • Named world's best Men's player for 2023
  • Beat competition from Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland

  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    The attacker was crowned the world's best men's player for the year 2023 at the ceremony in London on Monday, beating out two fellow superstars in the process. He has won the award more than any other player now, being recognized in 2019, 2022 and now, 2023.

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  • THE BIG PICTURE

    After winning his eighth Ballon d'Or in 2023, that followed a 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Argentine has now been crowned the best player in the world by FIFA, too. The MLS star is the first player to ever win the award while playing in the league, and his third time winning the award.

  • DID YOU KNOW

    Messi, along with both Mbappe and Haaland, did not attend the ceremony. The Argentine stayed in Miami, training with the Herons for their first preseason game of the 2024 campaign on Friday against the El Salvador national team.

  • WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI

    The 2024 MLS campaign is now on the horizon, with the Herons officially returning to action on February 21 against Real Salt Lake to begin the MLS season. Until then, it's a plethora of friendlies, including a date against Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr on February 1.