The 36-year-old has been once again voted the best player on the planet by GOAL readers thanks to his heroics at last year's World Cup
Lionel Messi has done it again! Just under a year after the No.10 claimed a record-breaking sixth GOAL50 victory, moving him one clear of long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, he's now in seventh heaven, after pipping Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham to top spot in the 2023 edition.
Messi may have won Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain before leading Inter Miami to Leagues Cup glory during the summer but his latest triumph in the one and only fan-fuelled football vote to establish the best player on the planet owes everything to his stunning performances during Argentina's triumphant 2022 World Cup campaign.
Haaland's Norway didn't qualify Qatar but the striker has rightly been recognised for breaking one goalscoring after another throughout Manchester City's treble-winning campaign, while Bellingham took third on the back of a stellar season at Borussia Dortmund that convinced Real Madrid to pay more than €100 million for the Englishman's services.
But which other players made the GOAL50 top 10 for 2023? Find out below and let us know your thoughts in the comment box provided at the foot of the page!
GOAL50Sofyan Amrabat
Sofyan Amrabrat played every single minute of Morocco's magnificent World Cup campaign, which tells you everything you need to know about the 27-year-old’s importance to the African nation's historic fourth-place finish. Amrabat proved himself one of the game's very best defensive midfielders in Qatar – his performances against Spain and Portugal were particularly impressive – before going on to help Fiorentina reach the Europa Conference League final. A deserved move to Manchester United followed.
AdvertisementGOAL49Goncalo Ramos
A star was well and truly born at the 2022 World Cup. After being sensationally selected to start up front for Portugal in place of national icon Cristiano Ronaldo, Goncalo Ramos responded by hitting a hat-trick in a stunning rout of Switzerland. The 22-year-old striker also struck 27 times in all competitions as Benfica won the Primeira Liga, while at the same time reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League, with his fine form earning him a summer move to Paris Saint-Germain.
GOAL48Adrien Rabiot
The enigmatic Adrien Rabiot copped quite a bit of flak during his early years at Juventus, with many supporters and pundits wondering exactly what exactly he brought to the side. However, Rabiot silenced his critics last season. The midfielder was arguably Juve’s only world-class performance during a desperately trying campaign, finally adding goals to his game, while he was also outstanding at the World Cup for runners-up France.
GOAL47Giovanni Di Lorenzo
What a story! Just six years ago, Giovanni Di Lorenzo was playing third-their football in Italy. Now, he is the captain of the Serie A title winners. The defender was key to Napoli’s historic success too, an inspirational leader who also weighed in with five goals and six assists from right-back. Di Lorenzo’s new contract could not be more deserved.