In the wake of Lionel Messi being honored with the Fifa Best Men’s Player of the Year 2023 award, Cristiano Ronaldo set the internet abuzz with a cryptic Instagram post. The post showcased Ronaldo in training with Al Nassr, sparking speculation and stirring the debate on whether Ronaldo might have been a more deserving recipient of the prestigious award.
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Messi secured the accolade for a historic third time, narrowly edging out competition from Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, who claimed the second spot, with Kylian Mbappe finishing third in the rankings. The Fifa voting process revealed a tie between Messi and Haaland, each accumulating 48 points. However, Messi clinched the title by garnering more votes from national team captains.
The surprising decision left many puzzled, especially considering Messi’s perceived ordinary performance during the evaluated period from December 19, 2022, to August 20, 2023. Conversely, Haaland boasted a formidable position, scoring 30 goals and achieving a remarkable treble with Manchester City.
Netizens, in response to Ronaldo’s Instagram post, echoed sentiments that the Portuguese football star was a more deserving candidate for the Fifa Best Player award. Ronaldo’s stellar 2023 campaign showcased remarkable statistics, with 54 goals and 15 assists contributed to Al Nassr and Portugal across all competitions. His impressive average of a goal per 96 minutes underscored his exceptional form. “Back for more!,” Ronaldo captioned the post, emphasizing his relentless commitment to excellence.
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As the football community continues to discuss the perceived discrepancy in the award results, it raises questions about the criteria used in evaluating players’ performances and the subjectivity involved in such prestigious accolades.