Lionel Messi won FIFA’s “The Best” award for the third time on Monday as the Argentine pipped Manchester City’s Erling Haaland to the prize for best men’s player in 2023. Haaland was the favourite to win after scoring 52 times in his debut season with Manchester City, but Messi edged the vote after winning Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain and …

Following their World Cup victory, Argentina were prominently represented on the shortlists for FIFA’s Best awards, with forwards Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, and coach Lionel Scaloni all garnering nominations in different categories. The 14 players shortlisted for the Best FIFA Men’s Player award include Messi, French striker Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain, and Norwich Erling Haaland …