Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni believes there is no debate over whether or not Lionel Messi deserved to win the FIFA Best Men’s Player award.
Messi has been named the world’s best player of 2023, ahead of Manchester City star Erling Haaland and Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappé. His victory sparked debate among fans, but Scaloni insists his success should not be questioned.
Scaloni bares his fangs
“ I think the debate goes beyond football, I don’t think there is a debate between the footballer or the coach about why he won it“, Scaloni told Marca. “ If Haaland or Mbappé had won it, that would have been good too. It’s a media thing. Debating why Messi won it while footballers vote is strange“.
Messi won the award despite a rather quiet 2023. After leading Argentina to the World Cup at the end of 2022, he left PSG to join Inter Miami, who he led to victory in the Leagues Cup, but who missed out on a play-off position in MLS. Haaland, meanwhile, played a starring role as City won the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup and Mbappé helped PSG win the Ligue 1 championship title.
The 36-year-old will be in action again next week, when his Inter Miami team take on an Al-Nassr side captained by his old rival Cristiano Ronaldo. The Florida club will then begin their MLS campaign with a match against Real Salt Lake at the end of February.
