Lionel Messi crowned FIFA Men’s Player of the Year 2023 Messi beating Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe to the top prize FIFA has named the Argentine the best player in the world after he won his eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023, which followed the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Major League Soccer player has won the award three times in his career and is the first player to do so while competing in the league.