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John Obi Mikel: ‘Messi did more to win FIFA Best Player 2023 than Haaland’
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Former Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel insists that Messi did more to be crowned the best FIFA Player of the Year ahead of Erling Haaland after the Argentine beat the Norwegian to the coveted FIFA awards.
Messi claimed the 2023 FIFA Best Player of the Year award ahead of the Norwegian international.
Despite scoring more goals than the Argentine international for his club, Halaand fell behind Messi in the pecking order for the award which Mikel sees as a deserved one.
“I think he did something like the question we always ask but has he won the World Cup? That was the question everyone asked. He hasn’t won the World Cup with Argentina,” Mikel told Sky Sports.
“He won Copa America and in the same year, he won the World Cup.
“I understand that Halaand is a good player who plays for Manchester City. His team is an attacking side that knows how to create chances and win.
“He hasn’t played for some games now and the team are winning. They know how to win without him.” He concluded.
Messi won his eighth FIFA Best Player of the Year award on Monday.
He has previously won the award in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, and 2021.
