Messi wins The Best FIFA Men`s Player award

Lionel Messi has once again been crowned `The Best` in soccer after being announced as the winner of the FIFA best men`s player award at The Best FIFA Football Awards held in London on Monday, reports marca.

Messi won the trophy after clinching the Ligue 1 title with PSG and the Leagues Cup with Inter Miami. But it was certainly an unexpected award for the 36-year-old, who was not present to collect it, as Haaland was the clear favorite.

The Manchester City striker, who is currently injured, was the favorite to land the `The Best` after an extraordinary year, having taken the European Golden Boot with a record 36 goals in the Premier League and winning the treble as Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup winner.

He was also named Player of the Year in the Premier League 22-23, top scorer of the Champions League with 12 goals and winner of the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla.

It is the third time the Argentinian superstar has won `The Best` with only four male players able to call themselves a winner. Cristiano Ronaldo has done it twice, along with Robert Lewandowski and Luka Modric, to join the hat-trick hero Messi._Agencies.