Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has been crowned winner of the FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year Award for the third time.
Messi beat his fellow competitors Manchester City’s striker Erling Haaland and PSG marksman Kylian Mbappe to the highly valuable award in a ceremony held on Monday night in London.
Haaland was tipped to win the accolade following an exceptional debut campaign at Man City where he inspired the Cityzens to a historical treble, the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup titles; banging in 52 goals all through.
Instead, Messi was announced winner of the gong for the third time in his remarkable career, thanks to more first-choices nominations from national team coaches, captains, journalists and fans.
His latest achievement is coming on the heels of another success after he became Ballon d’Or champion for a record-breaking eighth time, three months ago.
The FIFA Men’s Best Player win covered the time Messi led the Argentine national team to World Cup victory in December 2022 to 2023.
Despite his down turn of form lately, the 36 years old managed to finished top of the three-man list having amassed most of the votes.
The Inter Miami player has now won the top prize for two successive years after his previous wins in 2019 and 2022.
Although, he was not physically present at the ceremony, leaving his former teammate at Barcelona, Thierry Henry to pick the award for him.
