Former Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi, has explained why Lionel Messi deserved to win the 2023 FIFA’s Best Men’s Player of the Year ahead of Erling Haaland.
Lionel Messi became the first footballer to win The Best FIFA Men’s Player award three times.
The Argentine superstar, 36, was confirmed as the 2023 winner at The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony in London on Monday, January 15. He came out on top in the voting ahead of finalists Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
Speaking to Sky Sports in a brief chat, former Chelsea midfielder Obi was asked if Messi deserved the title of FIFA’s best player of the year.
He stated, “I think he did. We’ve complained that he hasn’t won the World Cup with Argentina. That was the only question. He hadn’t won it for Argentina. Then, he won the Copa America. The same year, he won the Copa America and the World Cup. Come on.”
Speaking on Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, who came second, Obi said: “I understand that Haaland is a great player. He plays for Manchester City, a team that creates chances and wins games. They’ve lost only one in nine or 10 games. They create chances, score goals, and know how to win games without Haaland,” Obi said.
Messi secured the trophy after clinching the Ligue 1 title with PSG and the Leagues Cup with Inter Miami.
Erling Haaland, who was the favorite to win the award, won the European Golden Boot with a record 36 Premier League goals and secured the treble as Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup winner.
