Lionel Messi wins FIFA Best Men's Player Award raising eyebrows as Haaland senior expresses disagreement.
Lionel Messi secured his third win of FIFA Best Men's Player award outshining competitors Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
Despite Lionel Messi's absence at the London ceremony, his Inter Miami exploits in Major League Soccer garnered him the prestigious accolade.
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However, the victory raised eyebrows, especially from an unexpected source—Alfe-Inge Haaland, the father of Erling Haaland.
In an unexpected twist, Messi's triumph came under scrutiny from the father of the young Norwegian sensation, Erling Haaland.
Alfe-Inge Haaland's reaction, visibly expressing disagreement with the results, added an intriguing layer to the evening.
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As Messi's name echoed through the venue, Haaland senior's raised eyebrows hinted at a difference of opinion regarding the deserving recipient of the coveted award.
Despite Inter Miami's disappointing 14th-place finish in the Eastern Conference of MLS in 2023, Lionel Messi's impact was undeniable.
The Argentine maestro, who had bid farewell to top-tier European football in 2023, continued to dominate headlines and accolades.
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Messi's absence from the ceremony prompted former football legend Thierry Henry to play the role of Messi's proxy, collecting the award on his behalf and injecting humor into the proceedings.
Henry's playful banter extended to his co-presenter, Reshmin Chowhury, a Tottenham Hotspur supporter.
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Henry, a former Arsenal great, quipped about the rarity of Tottenham fans getting their hands on trophies and jokingly volunteered to keep the award for himself.
"Tonight someone's going to have to take the trophy, shall I?," he said as per TalkSport.
"I actually have two reasons for taking it. I never won it so I'll keep it.But you're a Tottenham fan right? That's the other reason, you don't usually get your hands on a trophy so I'll take this one."
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While Messi secured the individual honor, Erling Haaland did not leave the ceremony empty-handed. The young striker's treble-winning manager, Pep Guardiola, was crowned the FIFA Best Men's Coach.
Despite Haaland missing out on the top individual prize, the recognition of Guardiola's managerial prowess highlighted the impressive achievements of Manchester City in the previous season.
In the women's categories, England's Sarina Wiegman claimed the Women's Coach prize, and Spain and Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati secured the Best Women's Player award.
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England and Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps received the Best Women's Goalkeeper award, solidifying her status as a standout performer.
Earps was also honored in the FIFPro Women's XI, alongside her England teammates Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Lauren James, Alessia Russo, Ella Toone, and Keira Walsh.
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