Lionel Messi of Argentina Announced as the Best Footballer of 2023, Aitana Bonmati Continues Her Winning Streak in Women’s Category
In an unexpected turn of events, Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi surpassed Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé to grab the title of the finest player of 2023. The announcement was made at FIFA’s ‘best players’ ceremony on Monday, where Aitana Bonmati from Spain continued her series of victories in the women’s division.
The 36-year-old Golden Ball winner Messi clinched 48 points, equaling Haaland, the anticipated winner due his superb scoring spree for Manchester City, with whom he marked an impressive trio of victories in the Champions League, the England Cup, and the Championship.
Despite an uneventful season with Paris Saint-Germain, Messi secured the win courtesy of a rule which, in such a situation, gives greater significance to votes from the national teams’ captains.
Messi’s former teammate at PSG, French footballer Kylian Mbappé, ranked third with 35 points.
This outcome comes as a shock considering the period in scrutiny. It was meant to consider the sportive performances achieved between December 19, 2022, following the finals of the World Cup, and August 20, 2023.
However, during this period, Haaland netted 28 goals in 33 games, scoring 7 out of 7 in the Champions League. Meanwhile, Messi’s PSG, including Mbappé, bowed out as early as the round of 16 in Europe’s leading competition, a slide that seemed insurmountable.
The French forward overshadowed the double disaster of the C1 and World Cup finals, scoring 17 goals in the last 20 Ligue 1 matches, but these domestic sparks hold less weight than a continental crown.
Messi’s impact at the club, winning for the third time after 2019 and 2022 and absent at the London ceremony, was considerably less during this period.
Though Manchester City’s number 9 did not secure the crown, six of the team’s players were included in the ‘team of the year’ (Walker, Stones, Dias, Silva, De Bruyne, and Haaland), excluding Rodri, the goal scorer of the European final in Istanbul against Inter Milan.
Individually, City’s coach Pep Guardiola and Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson grabbed prizes for their respective roles.
The voting was carried out by national team managers, their captains, journalists, and fans who registered on the FIFA website, each category accounting for 25% of the votes.
In the women’s category, the FIFA award stays in Spain as Aitana Bonmati replaces her fellow countrywoman Alexia Putellas, the recipient of the previous two awards.
The soon-to-be 26-year-old midfielder (celebrating her birthday this Thursday) has accumulated the three biggest individual awards in a year – UEFA and FIFA’s best player along with the Golden Ball, a trio only previously achieved by her predecessor in 2021.
“I will remember this unique year for the rest of my life. I’m proud to be part of this powerful generation of women who are changing football and the world,” she said from London’s Eventim Apollo, where the ceremony was held.
There was minimal suspense given Bonmatí’s track record and talent displayed on the pitch.
The Catalan player won the Champions League with FC Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain, being named best player in both competitions.
The threat from her fellow countrywoman and world champion “Jenni” Hermoso, currently playing in the less competitive Mexican championship, was minimal, just like that of Linda Caicedo (18 years old), Colombia’s gem, and Real Madrid’s nominee.
England, the World Cup finalists, have the Manchester United goalkeeper, Mary Earps, and their Dutch coach, Sarina Wiegman, among the winners in their respective categories. Both women retain a trophy won in 2022.