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2022 World Cup winner with Argentina, 2024 Inter Miami player: Lionel Messi
Photograph:
DANIEL RAMALHO / AFP
Lionel Messi again and again: The Argentine World Cup winner has been voted World Player of the Year despite his farewell to the big sporting stage. The 36-year-old was honoured in absentia in London, surprisingly beating goalkeeper Erling Haaland of treble winners Manchester City and Kylian Mbappé of Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi, who moved to Inter Miami in the USA in the summer, was able to celebrate his eighth FIFA award. In the Hammersmith Apollo, rather restrained applause could be heard.
Haaland was considered the favourite for the award, officially dubbed "The Best". The former Dortmund player scored 44 goals in 54 games across all competitions – and won not only the treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup with City, but also the Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup.
Nevertheless, it was Messi again, which calls into question the sporting value of the award, which is again in competition with the Ballon d'Or. Messi had won it last year because the World Cup title in Qatar 2022 was also still part of the assessment period. At club level, the 36-year-old has long since arrived on the periphery of world football.
The best female footballer was awarded to the Spanish world champion Aitana Bonmatí.
sak/dpa