Messi is voted best in the world for the 8th time, in a snubbed ceremony

Lionel Messi opted for a reclusive 2023/2024 season. After becoming world champion in Qatar, the Argentine striker left Paris Saint-Germain and transferred to Inter Miami, in the United States.

Even so, and having only won the French Championship and Leagues Cup last year, he was chosen by FIFA voters as the best player of the season. The result is surprising after Erling Haaland, triple crown champion with Manchester City, arrived as favorite for the dispute. Since 2016, when The Best was created, this is the first time that the winner of the best in the world was not present.

Without Messi, Thiery Henry, one of the ceremonialists, stepped up to accept the award from Lionel Messi. At the ceremony, it was possible to see the public’s surprised looks at the Argentine striker’s victory. “I never won the award, I would be fine with it,” said the former French striker. An atmosphere of embarrassment marked the event, in which only women presented the night’s awards, in honor of the 2016 Women’s World Cup.

Messi finished tied on points with Erling Haaland (48 for both). The Argentine won the award for being chosen first in the vote the most times. Mbappé finished in third place, as chosen by the voters. None of the three were present at the ceremony, held in London. According to the rules, if the finalists were tied on points, the prize would be given to the player who was chosen first in the vote the most times.

The electorate’s assessment takes into account the achievements of each athlete in the period between December 19, 2022 – one day after the World Cup final, which was not considered – and August 20, 2023. Twelve players were nominated for the award for a technical council, made up of former athletes; From this list, three finalists were chosen by a jury made up of four categories: men’s national team coaches, men’s national team captains, football journalists and fans who voted on the FIFA website.

Each voter formed their ideal top 3, with points being distributed according to each position – five for first place, three for second and one for third. Each group had 25% weight in the final decision, regardless of the number of voters. The electorate’s assessment takes into account the achievements of each athlete in the period between December 19, 2022 – one day after the World Cup final, which was not considered – and August 20, 2023. Fernando Diniz and Casemiro, representatives of the Brazilian team voted for Messi and Haaland, respectively.

Messi was chosen by the majority of captains of FIFA-affiliated teams and by fans, on the entity’s official website; Haaland was the winner in the other two categories: technicians and journalists, chosen by the entity. The Manchester City striker’s father was present at the ceremony while his son recovers from an injury.

Erling Haaland was the favorite to win. In 2023, he surpassed the record for goals in a single edition of the English Championship (36) and helped Manchester City reach the unprecedented victory of the Champions League. Even without scoring in the decisive stages of the knockout stages (semi and finals), he reached the mark of 35 goals and six assists, for Manchester City and the Norwegian team, in the period evaluated by the election. An average of 81.36 minutes to participate in a goal in the year.

GUILHERME MADRUGA JOINS NEYMAR AND WENDELL LIRA AT THE PUSKÁS AWARD

“Today is a unique day in my life. It is marked in my history and in the memory of everyone who follows my path”, said Guilherme Madruga. The Brazilian joins Neymar and Wendell Lira, as the only Brazilians to win the Puskás Award, for the most beautiful goal of last season. Moved, the player remembered his beginnings in football in his speech, alongside Thierry Henry.

The Brazilian competed for the Puskás Award alongside Paraguayan Julio Enciso, from Brighton, and Portuguese Nuno Santos, from Sporting. The Brazilian’s bicycle goal was recorded against Novorizontino in June 2023.

FIGHT AGAINST RACISM

Champion of the Spanish Super Cup this Sunday, in Saudi Arabia, Vinícius Júnior received a new award this Monday, in London, at The Best awards. The Brazilian was unable to be present, due to Saudi Arabia’s trip to Europe, but was remembered by FIFA as a reference for the Brazilian team in the fight against racism in 2023. He was represented by Roberto Carlos, Júlio César, Roque Júnior, Ronaldo, Belletti and Cafu, references from Brazil in recent decades.

“Racism is a question of education. Let’s educate people to live in a world of equality. Let’s use football as a tool for society,” said Cafu, who was spokesperson for the Brazilian team at the FIFA awards. In 2023, in a friendly against Guinea, Brazil entered for the first time with a black shirt, in support of the fight against racism. The match took place in Spain, where Vini Jr. suffered racist attacks in a match against Valencia in the same year.

GUARDIOLA BEST COACH FOR THE 1ST TIME

Dominant since 2009, still with Barcelona, ​​Pep Guardiola had never won the award for best coach in the world, since it was established in 2016. He had already finished in second place three times in the election, but without being honored with the award. “I want to share this award with Inzaghi and Spaletti. This year their work at Napoli and Inter Milan was impressive. I would also like to share this moment with the players and management of Manchester City. An idea that grew and dominated the world. Thank you for trusting me”, said the coach

Thanks to the cast are reflected in the season selection. Six Manchester City athletes were chosen, by 28 thousand professional players from the International Federation of Professional Football Players (FIFPro), for the ideal team for 2023. John Stones, Rubén Dias and Kyle Walker in defense; Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, in midfield; and Erling Haaland in attack. Thibaut Courtois, Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior, from Real Madrid, as well as finalists Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi complete the team.

In another surprising result, and even without making the FIFPro ideal selection, Ederson was voted the best goalkeeper in the world. “I want to thank God for all the blessings in my life, my family, my team for the wonderful year we’ve had,” he said. He joins Vini Jr. as the only Brazilians to win an award on the night in London.

SURPRISE IN WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

World Cup runner-up, Sarina Wiegman, from the England team, won her fourth title of best coach in the world at The Best. The choice of the Dutchwoman was surprising, mainly due to the defeat of Jonatan Giraldez, multiple champion with Barcelona, ​​in the award.

The women’s World Cup, which ended with the Spanish team winning the title, was included in the evaluation criteria. Even so, only two names from the champion made the FIFPro team of the season – Olga Carmona and Aitana Bonmati. Jennifer Hermoso and Linda Caicedo, finalists for the best player in the world award, were not chosen by the entity’s 28 thousand athletes.

With seven representatives, England dominated the season’s selection. Mary Earps; Olga Carmona, Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood; Keira Walsh, Alessia Russo, Lauren James, Ella Toone and Aitana Bonmati; Alex Morgan and Sam Kerr. Earps was also named best goalkeeper of the season. Bonmatí, the best athlete at the World Cup, also won the award for best player of the season.