Lionel Messi has been crowned The Best for the year 2023, sharing the spotlight with Erling Haaland as both players secured 48 points each in the FIFA rankings. The tiebreaker, according to FIFA, was determined by activating Article 12 of the rules of allocation.
Article 12 stipulates that in the event of a tie, the winner will be decided based on the highest number of five-point scores. This criterion worked in Messi’s favor, propelling him to victory and securing the prestigious award for the third time in his illustrious career.
Messi has become the first footballer to win The Best FIFA Men’s Player award three times. Messi, 36, was confirmed as the 2023 winner at The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony in London on Monday.
However, not everyone agrees with Messi’s win. Some fans argue that Messi’s performance in the year under consideration did not merit the award, emphasizing that other players, including Haaland, may have had a more impactful year. The debate surrounding Messi’s worthiness for The Best 2023 is now echoing across football circles, adding a layer of controversy to the prestigious accolade.
