Not in USA, but Lionel Messi Will Present 2023 FIFA the Best Award in El Salvador Ahead of Inter Miami Friendly: Reports

Different year, but the same result! Lionel Messi, for the second year in a row, has been crowned FIFA The Best Men’s Player. Although the Argentine maestro could not attend the ceremony in London, he will graciously present his award to his fans in El Salvador.

Instead of making the trip to London to attend the ceremony, Messi opted to remain in Miami to train with his team, Inter Miami. Furthermore, he will be traveling to El Salvador on Friday to participate in a friendly match against them. Yet, another award for what’s been an eventful year for Messi!

EL Salvador to be graced by Lionel Messi’s record FIFA The Best trophy

According to a report from media personality Fernando Palomo, Lionel Messi will be presenting his award at the Cuscatlan Stadium during the Inter Miami vs El Salvador match on Friday. Reportedly, the 36-year-old will present his awards in front of the fans before the match begins.

Consequently, fans in America will have to wait to witness Lionel Messi lifting the trophy on their soil. Even though they have not announced the exact date, chances are that it might happen on January 22nd when Inter Miami plays against FC Dallas in a friendly match at the Cotton Bowl stadium.

The 8x Ballon d’Or winner is expected to appear in that game as well. It’s worth noting that this will be the first time a FIFA The Best award will be presented on American soil, all thanks to Lionel Messi. Securing the award was not a straightforward achievement for the Argentine. He competed and tied at 48 points with Erling Haaland, both vying for the prestigious trophy.

Nonetheless, the Inter Miami captain emerged as the victor due to receiving many more first-choice nominations from national men’s team captains. Let us delve into the individuals who voted in favor of Lionel Messi, ultimately leading to his record 3rd triumph.

From Luka Modric to Kylian Mbappe- players who voted for La Pulga

Lionel Messi, to achieve the remarkable feat, received votes from former teammates and even his rivals. Notably, players like Kylian Mbappe and Gianluigi Donnarumma, who have crossed paths with La Pulga, cast their votes in his favor. Even Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski joined the list.

Dive Deeper: “Idiots, Brain-Dead” –Chelsea Legend Blasts Kylian Mbappe, Mohamed Salah & Co. for Voting Lionel Messi as FIFA Men’s Best Player 2023

It is intriguing how players from rival teams such as Luka Modric, Federico Valverde from Real Madrid, and Jan Oblak from Atletico Madrid voted in the ex-Barcelona star’s favor. Additionally, renowned figures like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Harry Kane, and Romelu Lukaku are some names on the list. As a result, in a historic triumph, Lionel Messi engraved his name in the annals of soccer history.

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What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.