Superstar Lionel Messi received his first individual award of the season in Ligue 1, when he was voted "Best Foreign Player" by fans.
Ligue 1 organizers selected four nominees, including Messi, Alexis Sanchez, Jonathan David and Folarin Balogun, for fans to vote online. The results on June 26 showed that Messi received 52.1% of the votes, compared to 23.5% for runner-up Sanchez. This is the first time Messi has received an individual award in Ligue 1, and possibly the last, as he has left PSG for Inter Miami.
Messi before the match against Angers at Raymond Kopa Stadium in France on April 21, 2023. Photo: Reuters
The award is given to the non-French player who has performed the best during the season. Last season, when Messi was not playing well, Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta won the award thanks to his good form with Lyon.
Messi scored 16 goals and assisted 16 times in 32 Ligue 1 matches in the 2022-2023 season, helping PSG win the title. He was one of two players to score and assist more than 15 times in five European leagues last season, along with Antoine Griezmann.
The Ligue 1 player of the season award went to striker Kylian Mbappe, with 28 goals and five assists. Messi and Mbappe were also named in the team of the season, along with teammates Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes.
Messi is also leading the race for the 2023 Ballon d'Or, according to Opta , with Erling Haaland and Mbappe close behind. The nominations for the award will be announced on September 6, 2023, with the ceremony taking place on October 30, 2023. Messi holds the record for seven Ballons d'Or, two more than second-placed Cristiano Ronaldo.
Hoang An
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