Lionel Messi secured his eighth FIFA Best Player of the Year award, a feat met with controversy and disbelief. Despite Messi’s triumph over Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, critics argue that the recognition is unwarranted for the following five reasons:
1. Subpar Performance in 2023:
Messi’s 2023 season, while not devoid of achievements, fell short of his legendary standards. Transitioning from Paris Saint-Germain to Inter Miami, he claimed the French Ligue 1 title and led Inter Miami to the League Cup. However, this performance was deemed merely decent and not exceptional, making his claim to the best player title questionable.
2. Haaland’s Deserving Feats:
The omission of Erling Haaland from major awards, despite an outstanding 52-goal season that propelled Manchester City to a treble, baffles many. With Messi already securing the award last year for the World Cup, Haaland’s exclusion is perceived as a glaring injustice and a robbery against the Manchester City striker.
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3. Tie-Breaker Controversy:
Messi and Haaland found themselves tied at 48 points in the FIFA The Best Player of the Year voting. The tie-breaker, determined by the number of first-place nominations from national team captains, favored Messi. This narrow margin adds to the controversy surrounding the award.
4. Emotion-Based Voting:
Voting patterns suggest Messi’s victory was influenced more by sentiment and his illustrious career than his specific 2023 achievements. Journalists and fans, who watch the game more closely, favored Haaland in their votes, while players and coaches likely cast their votes based on Messi’s reputation rather than his year-specific performance.
5. Historical Location Bias:
Messi’s relocation to Inter Miami marked a historic shift as he became the first non-European player to win the award since its inception in 1991. Critics argue that this geographical change should have disqualified him, highlighting the perceived lower quality of American football compared to European leagues.
In conclusion, Messi’s eighth FIFA Best Player award is viewed as a nod to his illustrious career rather than a reflection of his 2023 contributions, raising concerns about fairness and the need for improvement in FIFA’s award selection process.