The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) has named the best football player in the world in 2023. It was Manchester City and Norway national team striker Erling Haaland. The rating appeared on the official website of the organization.
The best football player in the world 2023
As a result of the voting, Holland scored 208 points and took first place. PSG striker Kylian Mbappe was in second position with 105 points. And third place went to the Argentinean, Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, who earned 85 points.
The top five in the ranking also included Manchester City midfielder Rodri and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham. The athletes scored 55 and 34 points, respectively.
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Previous awards
This was the first award of this kind for a Norwegian footballer. Let us remember that in 2022, Lionel Messi became the best football player in the world, and Mbappe was also in second place. In 2020 and 2021, Robert Lewandowski became the best football player, according to IFFHS.
In addition, Messi previously topped the list of the best football player of the 21st century, according to the British magazine FourFourTwo. In second place is Cristiano Ronaldo, who now plays for the Saudi Al-Nasr Cristiano Ronaldo.
Haaland’s other awards
Last season, the athlete became Manchester City’s top scorer: he was able to score 52 goals and provide 9 assists in 53 in all competitions.
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The best female football player in the world
This title went to Spaniard Aitana Bonmati, who plays for the Barcelona football club.
Erling Holland
Now the football player is 23 years old. In 2022, he moved to Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund, a transfer that cost the club $62 million. The Transfermarkt portal currently values the player at €180 million.
He made his debut in the Norwegian national team back in 2019, and has already played 29 matches for the national team, scored 27 goals and provided three assists.