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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.
I always knew this guy has always been foolish, a rigged world cup of 2022, how does he deserve to win Fifa best for 2023. Messi fans are way more stupid than I thought.
E pain am. Keep crying bro.
You’re the fool ..ode you guys sound so dumb .. rigged world cup how .. ? Ask your blind sef whether it was FIFA that asked France to miss their chances in the final
Dear Dingbat,was the World Cup 2022 really rigged for Argentina? Just cuz of Messi??🤣🤣🤣
Mikel is becoming very stupid by the day...no wonder he never grew in his career ...world cup wasn't wasn't criteria during the award..reason y martinez their goalkeeper or saloni their coach wasn't nominated.... how Messi made the list is perplexing.... this was halaands award that was stolen ...Messi dint even deserve to be listed among top 20... cos its meant to be performance after the world cup which truly he has done nothing significant....the ligue 1 they talk about was because of mbappe ...he had highest goals and highest assists...besides, French league is a weak league and doesn't count... usa league doesn't count at allllll cos its a rubbish league ...so why dis they now give Messi when halaand won citys first ever champions league, premiership and fa Cup in his first season and scored over 50goals for goodness sake .... Messi that cudnt even pass round of 16 in champions league... Mr backpass its certain u are still happy u were invited for the occasion
You are The Useless Man.
You are the foolish one egg head
Same here. Mikel obi stinks of stupidity. Your mates are still playing football yet your career ended so soon. Just try dey keep quiet.
Messi and Mikel started off together as great youngsters playing excellent football at that time. I mean, at that time Mikel was rated higher than Messi but cos Messi is white, we all know how that went.. If not for those two "ojoro" penalty kicks that were awarded Argentina that Messi scored, Argentina were held down well due to the Attacking midfield prowess of John Obi Mikel.. It was after that junior worldcup that ferguson wanted to die to recruit Mikel to ManU before dude followed extra bribe from Abrahimovic and followed chelsea instead while Messi went to Barcelona. Fast forward to today, Messi still actively playing with all the ballon dor and FIFA awards and Mikel already retired for close to 5yrs now with 1 African footballer of the year which was cos of his performance at that worldcup with Messi
He will lick Messi's ass if allowed.
Messi is the best.
Pls someone should tell this fool to keep quiet. He's been vocal recently for no reason. Has his baby mama left him? Is he in turmoil?
Keep complaining while Messi keep winning...if you do not stop your stupidity of creating non existent excuses come next year we will still give him another ballon d'or...rigged world cup like it's Nigerian elections..Awon oloshi bara loshi loshi
Best Comment
Mikel is one of Africa's most decorated player. Why the hatred? Why can't you guys say positive things about one of your own? He was successful as a footballer, he has business investments home and abroad. Come on guys.....he even has his podcast and is still staying relevant in the football space. See the caliber of coaches and ex footballers that come on his podcast...it's not easy to get these guys to come on a show. We have so much hate for each other.....it's quite sad.