Messi edges Haaland to win Fifa's Best Men's player as Bonmati takes best women's prize

Lionel Messi edged out Manchester City striker Erling Haaland to be crowned Fifa's Best Men's Player for 2023, while Aitana Bonmati added to her collection of individual accolades at the awards ceremony in London.

Haaland had been widely tipped to collect the award after a stellar debut season in Manchester. His 52 goals helped City to a maiden Champions League crown as well as the Premier League and FA Cup.

Instead, it was Messi who picked up the award for the third time in his illustrious career.

After receiving the same number of points from a scoring system based off votes from national team captains, coaches, journalists and fans, Messi was crowned victor thanks to more first-choice nominations.

The award only covered the period after Messi had led Argentina to World Cup glory in December 2022 to August 2023.

During that time the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner had a subdued end to his career at Paris Saint-Germain, despite winning the Ligue 1 title, before joining MLS side Inter Miami in June.

Messi quickly made his mark in the United States as he helped the franchise, part-owned by David Beckham, to their first trophy by winning the Leagues Cup in August.

Neither Messi nor Haaland attended the ceremony while Messi's former PSG teammate, Kylian Mbappe, who finished third in the voting, was also absent, leaving Arsenal and France legend Thierry Henry, who was co-hosting the event, to pick up the award in Messi's absence.

Bonmati's selection as the best women's player was never in doubt as she completed a clean sweep of personal awards after helping Spain to win the World Cup and Barcelona to Champions League glory in 2023.

The 25-year-old also won the Ballon d'Or, Golden Ball for player of the World Cup, and Uefa's