Recent criticism over Lionel Messi’s victory at the FIFA Best Awards 2023 has cast doubt on the notion that the pick that has the greatest support is invariably the one that is most deserving. Some contend that although the Argentine won his third Best Male Player award, the honor may not have been properly given to him this time. Messi surprised everyone by defeating Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, raising doubts about the legitimacy of the coveted accolade.
A Tight Victory
Messi defeated Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland in London, winning by the slimmest of margins. Due to more national team captains’ first-place nominations, Messi, who was not present at the presentation, was awarded the top prize. A significant part was played by the scoring system, which was a combination of votes from journalists, fans, and coaches and captains of the national team. Each phase contributed 25% to the final result.
Haaland’s Remarkable Season
The decision to not include Erling Haaland in the Best Male Player category has left many people in shock. The Norwegian forward had an incredible season with Manchester City, setting new records for success. Haaland’s ability to score goals was amazing, as he broke records and set his own. With 36 league goals and an unprecedented triple in the FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, and Premier League, Haaland’s accomplishments strongly suggest he should have won.
View this post on Instagram
The Unparalleled Season of Haaland
Haaland scored an incredible 30 goals in the time taken into consideration for the awards, which ran from December 19, 2022, to August 20, 2023. He not only scored goals on the national arena but also achieved a triple, a feat that might not be topped for many years. It begs the question, what more could Haaland have done to win the esteemed FIFA Best Award?
Messi’s Season in Review
Lionel Messi, on the other hand, caused some controversy with his contributions during that same time. After becoming the French Ligue 1 champion with nine goals for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Messi went on to Inter Miami, where he scored ten goals in seven games to win the Leagues Cup for the first time in American history. But the argument that compares Messi’s accomplishments to Haaland’s remarkable season in a league with greater competition is what really ignites the discussion.
Read more: Lionel Messi cements legacy by winning third FIFA best award
Questions Surrounding FIFA Best Awards’ Credibility
Doubt about the FIFA Best Awards’ legitimacy has been raised by the choice to honor Messi rather than Haaland. Detractors wonder how a player who dominated one of the world’s most competitive leagues can win a treble and be crowned the greatest goal scorer in Major League Soccer (MLS) without beating out someone else. A potential compromise to the legitimacy of the renowned prize arises from the dispute around whether or not Messi has become the object of humiliating infatuation.
Football awards are subjective, which is something that is brought up in the ongoing discussions around Messi’s third FIFA Best Award triumph. A reassessment of the selection process is warranted by the doubts raised about the legitimacy of the prize and the apparent bias towards well-known names. In the football world, there is still a lot of debate over whether Messi’s incessant fixation has affected decision-making or whether Haaland’s incredible season merited greater acknowledgment.
