Lionel Messi's 3rd FIFA The Best Award: Legacy and Criticism

Messi's FIFA The Best Award news | This is 2022 Fifa the Best Award Image that was held on 27 February 2023 in Paris, France. The Prime Headline.

Lionel Messi won his third FIFA The Best men’s award in 2023
The award was based on players’ performances between December 19, 2022, and August 20, 2023.
This article will delve into various aspects of Messi’s third FIFA The Best award, including his performance, comparisons with other opponents, the voting process, criticisms, and the reasons for both deserving and not deserving the award.

Messi’s Performance:

Messi had an exceptional year, winning the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and the Leagues Cup with Inter Miami.
He led Ligue 1 in assists and won the title for the second consecutive season.
Messi’s performance after leaving PSG was also impressive, scoring 10 goals in just seven games in the Leagues Cup.
At the international level, he scored five goals in three games for Argentina after winning the World Cup.

Comparison with Opponents:

Messi faced tough competition from Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé for the award.
Haaland had an extraordinary year, breaking goal-scoring records in the Premier League and winning multiple titles with Manchester City.
Mbappé led PSG to another French title and was the leading scorer in Ligue 1 for the fifth consecutive year.
Despite their impressive performances, Messi emerged as the winner, receiving the most first-place selections from the captains.

Comparison with Cristiano Ronaldo:

Cristiano Ronaldo, a two-time FIFA The Best winner, was not among the finalists for the award.
Ronaldo had a relatively quieter year compared to Messi, with his performances not meeting the criteria for the award.
This absence of Ronaldo from the finalists raised eyebrows and sparked discussions among fans and experts.

Voting Process:

The voting for the FIFA The Best award involved national team captains, coaches, media members, and fans.
In the first phase, FIFA experts and external stakeholders selected the candidates.
In the second phase, the voting was divided into four stakeholders, each having a 25% share.
The captains and coaches of the world’s national teams, a journalist from each FIFA member country, and fans through online voting participated in the selection process.

Criticisms:

The exclusion of Cristiano Ronaldo from the finalists raised questions about the fairness of the selection process.
Some argued that Ronaldo’s performances deserved recognition and that he should have been among the finalists.
Others criticized the voting system, claiming that it lacked transparency and could be influenced by personal biases.

Why Messi Deserved the Award:

Messi’s performances, both at the club and international level, were exceptional during the evaluation period.
He led PSG to the Ligue 1 title and played a crucial role in Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup triumph.
Messi’s impact on the field, his goal-scoring ability, and his playmaking skills were unmatched during the evaluation period.
His contributions to Argentina’s success after winning the World Cup further solidified his claim to the award.

Why Messi Didn’t Deserve the Award:

Some critics argued that Messi’s performances were not significantly better than his competitors, such as Haaland and Mbappé.
They believed that the award should have gone to a player who had a more outstanding season or achieved greater success.
The exclusion of Cristiano Ronaldo from the finalists also raised doubts about the fairness of the selection process.

Overall:

Lionel Messi’s third FIFA The Best award was a result of his exceptional performances during the evaluation period.
Messi skipped Fifa awards to start preseason sooner with new club Inter Miami, having physical issues last season and wanting a proper preparation for an important season with both club and country.
While there were criticisms and controversies surrounding the selection process and the exclusion of Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi’s achievements and impact on the field made him a deserving winner.

FAQs:

When did Lionel Messi win his third FIFA The Best award?

Lionel Messi won his third FIFA The Best award on January 15, 2024.

What period did this award cover?

The award covered Messi’s performances from December 19, 2022, to August 20, 2023.

Who were the other finalists for the award?

The other finalists were Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé.

Why was there controversy surrounding Messi’s win?

The controversy arose because Messi had a relatively quiet season with PSG and Inter Miami during the period considered for the award.

How did Messi’s achievements compare to other contenders?

Erling Haaland had a more impressive season statistically, winning the treble with Manchester City and scoring 52 goals.

What factors might have influenced Messi’s win?

Messi’s win may have been influenced by his World Cup victory with Argentina in December 2022, even though it fell just outside the award’s timeframe.