Lionel Messi has once again been crowned 'The Best' in soccer after being announced as the winner of the FIFA best men's player award at The Best FIFA Football Awards held in London on Monday.
Messi won the trophy after clinching the Ligue 1 title with PSG and the Leagues Cup with Inter Miami. But it was certainly an unexpected award for the 36-year-old, who was not present to collect it, as Haaland was the clear favorite.
The Manchester City striker, who is currently injured, was the favorite to land the 'The Best' after an extraordinary year, having taken the European Golden Boot with a record 36 goals in the Premier League and winning the treble as Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup winner.
He was also named Player of the Year in the Premier League 22-23, top scorer of the Champions League with 12 goals and winner of the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla.
It is the third time the Argentinian superstar has won 'The Best' with only four male players able to call themselves a winner. Cristiano Ronaldo has done it twice, along with Robert Lewandowski and Luka Modric, to join the hat-trick hero Messi.
Full list of FIFA Best award winners
There was at least one City winner on the night, as Pep Guardiola collected the Best Men's Coach for winning the treble for the second time in his career.
Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati was crowned the Best in the women's game after leading Spain to Women's World Cup glory in Australia and New Zealand last year. England's Sarina Wiegman was named the Best Women's Coach after leading the Lionesses to the final before their narrow defeat at the hands of La Roja.
Manchester City's Ederson was named the best men's goalkeeper, while England's Mary Earps took home the honors for best women's goalkeeper.
The Puskas Award for best goal went to Guilherme Madruga of Botafogo for his bicycle kick, beating out Brighton's Julio Enciso and Sporting Lisbon's Nuno Santos.
How the voting system works
First, a group of FIFA experts and external stakeholders named a selection of candidates in which each member chose their three favorite players, coaches and goalkeepers for 'The Best'. Then it moved onto a second phase, in which four stakeholders are involved with 25 per cent each.
The captains and coaches of the world's 211 national team teams, a journalist from each FIFA member country and fans through a vote on the FIFA website.
On this occasion, they chose Messi - and Haaland may be feeling hard done by after his unforgettable year.
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