FIFA freestyle press comments on the election of Lionel Messi as world footballer
Argentine world champion Lionel Messi was once again named World Player of the Year. photo
© Martin Meissner/AP
Argentine world champion Lionel Messi has once again been voted World Footballer of the Year. In London he surprisingly prevailed against goal guarantor Erling Haaland from triple winner Manchester City and Kylian Mbappé from Paris Saint-Germain. Aitana Bonmatí, who celebrated the World Cup title with Spain in the summer, was named the best female soccer player. The international press writes:
Argentine world champion Lionel Messi has once again been voted World Footballer of the Year. In London he surprisingly prevailed against goal guarantor Erling Haaland from triple winner Manchester City and Kylian Mbappé from Paris Saint-Germain. Aitana Bonmatí, who celebrated the World Cup title with Spain in the summer, was named the best female soccer player. The international press writes:
Great Britain:
“The Sun”: “What the Haal? Lionel Messi shocked many in London when he beat Erling Haaland at the awards.”
“Daily Mirror”: “Given the amazing years that both Haaland and Mbappé have had, it was not expected that the football icon (Messi) would take home the prize.”
Spain:
“Marca”: “A surreal announcement… and a bang: Messi is still “The Best”. The images from the television broadcast were strange. Neither Haaland, Mbappé nor Messi (the three finalists) were present in London.”
“As”: “Messi wins the most controversial “The Best” award of all time. Erling Haaland went into the award as the big favorite, but the king was once again Leo Messi.”
“Mundo Deportivo”: “Aitana Bonmatí and Leo Messi rule the world.
Argentina:
“La Nación”: “Lionel Messi has begun to retire from major awards, but the football world still chooses him.”
“Clarín”: “The incredible vote that crowned Lionel Messi with ‘The Best’ award.”
“Olé”: “Without a doubt, the prize for Messi this time was not expected. He stayed in Miami because the preparation has just begun and he is traveling to El Salvador with his new teammate Luis Suárez. From Miami he smiled in a bizarre situation : He won “The Best” award after his coronation at the World Cup and without playing in a European league. A prize as an encore.”
Norway:
“Aftenposten”: “A claim that is not particularly controversial: Lionel Messi is no longer one of the ten best football players in the world. But Erling Braut Haaland is. Haaland has been injured since the beginning of December and was not at the awards ceremony in London on Monday evening. He has to wait for another chance to be named the best footballer in the world. But that depends on one thing above all: he has to go back to work soon. And to you, Messi: Sorry, but you don’t deserve this exact award .”
Italy:
“Gazzetta dello Sport”: “The best is still Messi.”
“Corriere dello Sport”: “Another trophy for Lionel Messi, the reigning world champion with his Argentina team, who was named best player of 2023 at the “Best Fifa Football Awards”. The 36-year-old Inter Miami star repeated his Last year’s victory by surprisingly beating the Norwegian Erling Haaland and the Frenchman Kylian Mbappé.”
Austria:
“Kurier”: “The election for World Footballer of the Year brought a surprising result. It was not the clearly favored Erling Haaland, but Lionel Messi who won the prestigious award in London on Monday. It is the eighth trophy for the record winner from Argentina, although he has “The freestyle has a stale aftertaste.”
Switzerland:
“Blick”: “Messi’s honor is a surprise, as Erling Haaland was considered the favorite for the title. Especially because the 2022 World Cup was no longer taken into account.”
dpa
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