LIONEL MESSI swooped Fifa’s The Best Men’s Player award for 2023 last night after captains, coaches and media voted him as the winner.
And the Argentina superstar took home the prize in spite of a few snubs including one from Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Portugal teammate Pepe.
AFPLionel Messi was voted as The Best Fifa Men’s Player of 2023[/caption]
GettyThe star wasn’t at the awards ceremony to collect his trophy[/caption]
National team captains from every nation get to cast their vote for who they think had the best campaign in 2023 – choosing their top three candidates in order.
And Messi narrowly came out on top over second place Erling Haaland.
Messi himself chose Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and compatriot Julian Alvarez as his top three candidates.
While Mbappe – who finished third – voted for Messi in first place alongside Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne.
Haaland was unable to cast a vote as he isn’t the captain of his national team, Norway.
However his Norwegian skipper and Premier League rival Martin Odegaard made sure he voted for the City striker in first place.
While Cristiano Ronaldo was nowhere to be seen in the voting, the awards or at the ceremony.
But his Portugal teammate Pepe still made a nod to Ronaldo’s feud with Messi by omitting him from his three votes for the award.
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Pepe instead cast his votes for Bernardo Silva, Haaland and Victor Osimhen.
Elsewhere other big names in world football made sure their votes counted with England captain Harry Kane choosing Messi, Haaland and Bernardo Silva.
While Virgil van Dijk chose Messi, Haaland and De Bruyne for his votes as captain of the Netherlands.
National team managers were also able to put forward their choices for the best three players with Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate choosing Man City trio Haaland, Rodri and Bernardo Silva ahead of any of his own players.
The awards evening saw Aitana Bonmati win the Fifa Best Women’s Player of the year while England boss Sarina Wiegman won the Fifa Best Women’s Coach of 2023.
Pep Guardiola was honoured with the Fifa Best Men’s Coach while his Man City Goalkeeper Ederson won the award for the Fifa Best Men’s Goalkeeper for 2023.
And there was even more success for English football as Mary Earps won a second consecutive Fifa Best Women’s Goalkeeper.
How the captains voted
Lionel Messi: Haaland, Mbappe, Alvarez
Kylian Mbappe: Messi, Haaland, De Bruyne
Martin Odegaard: Haaland, Messi, Mbappe
Harry Kane: Messi, Haaland, Bernardo Silva
Pepe: Bernardo Silva, Haaland, Osimhen
Casemiro: Haaland, Messi, Mbappe
Son Heung-Min: Messi, Haaland, Mbappe
Virgil van Dijk: Messi, Haaland, De Bruyne
Andy Robertson: Messi, Haaland, Mbappe
Luka Modric: Messi, Rodri, Marcelo Brozović
Mohamed Salah: Messi, De Bruyne, Haaland
Jonny Evans: Messi, Mbappe, Haaland
Seamus Coleman: De Bruyne, Haaland, Messi
Robert Lewandowski: Messi, Ilkay Gundogan, Haaland
Granit Xhaka: Messi, Haaland, Mbappe
Read the full list of who voted for who here.
Sunday TimesCristiano Ronaldo’s international teammate Pepe snubbed a vote for Lionel Messi[/caption]
AFPAitana Bonmati received The Best Fifa Women’s Player award[/caption]
GettyPep Guardiola was named as the best men’s coach for his treble winning campaign with Man City[/caption]
GettyMary Earps has won back-to-back awards for the best women’s keeper[/caption]
GettyLionesses boss Sarina Wiegman was named as the best women’s coach[/caption]