Aoba Tanaka 
London witnessed the celebration of football excellence as Argentina’s forward Lionel Messi secured the FIFA Best Men’s Player award, while Manchester City’s manager Pep Guardiola claimed the accolade for Best Men’s Coach.
In a closely contested battle for the Men’s Player award, Messi, now with Inter Miami, edged out competition from Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Paris St-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe, who secured the second and third positions, respectively.
Messi’s remarkable 2022-23 season saw him contribute to PSG’s French Ligue 1 victory and lead Inter Miami to triumph in the inaugural Leagues Cup in the United States. This marked his third win in the Best Men’s Player category, following victories in 2019 and 2022.
Erling Haaland’s prolific goal-scoring performance, with a record 36 Premier League goals and a total of 52 goals in all competitions, made him a strong contender. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe, securing the Ligue 1 title with PSG and claiming a fifth consecutive Golden Boot, showcased his exceptional skills.
The winners were determined through a combination of votes from national team managers, captains, journalists, and fans on FIFA’s website, with each group contributing 25% to the final result. Messi and Haaland tied on points, but Messi secured the award due to more first-place nominations from national team captains.
Additionally, Manchester City’s Ederson was honored with the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award, emphasizing City’s dominance. The awards ceremony also recognized Guardiola’s coaching prowess, as he claimed the Best Men’s Coach award.
The event, held at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, featured the presence of football stars past and present, adding grandeur to the celebration of football excellence.
