Former Ballon d’Or winner Lothar Matthäus has hit out at Lionel Messi, claiming that the Argentina captain did not deserve the Best FIFA Award for 2023.

Speaking on Sky Deutschland, Matthaus insisted that Messi did not deserve the FIFA award, adding that Manchester City’s Erling Haaland should have won the prize.

Messi recently won the FIFA Best Award ahead of Haaland.

“He can’t be the winner this time. I think he was the best footballer of the last 20 years, but he has been in Paris and Miami, where he is now creating hype, and not won any major titles,” Matthaus said.

“If you look at the great successes, there is no way past Manchester City and – when choosing the best player – Erling Haaland. He won the most important titles with Man City. His strike rate was impressive.

“That should be decisive when you choose the best and most important player – and that was Haaland.”

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