Only Lionel Messi‘s fans arguably seem to be happy with him winning FIFA The Best Men’s award for the third time. Despite the eligibility period not considering the period of his World Cup win, he still overtook the treble-winning Erling Haaland to claim the award. Hence, numerous pundits and fans have ridiculed FIFA. Now, Norwegian player turned pundit Jan Aage Fjortoft has joined the array of critics to slam Messi’s triumph. Apart from the obvious, he thinks the award has become a “joke” for some other choices as well.

Flashing his vibrant wit, the Norwegian included Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather in an ESPN FC conversation, followed by laughter among the panelists. It is surprising to see how Lionel Messi’s award win became a joke lately, a turn that no one anticipated.

Fjortoft doesn’t buy ‘Best Player Ever’ Lionel Messi winning FIFA ‘The Best’ Award

In a recent ESPN FC episode, the host asked Jan Aage Fjortoft to give his two cents on Lionel Messi winning The Best Award over Haaland. “First, point 1, a starting 11 without Rodri- a joke. The women’s starting 11 without nearly any Spanish player- a joke. Giving it to Messi, I don’t want to use the word joke in Messi, because maybe Messi is the best player ever. But to give him the prize for 2023, come on. I mean it is like giving The Godfather Oscar this year,” said Jan Aage Fjortoft. “That’s politics, pure politics, not giving it to Erling Haaland in 2023,” he added to his scathing critique.

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Still recovering from The Godfather joke, co-host Braig Burley asked which Godfather movie Fjortoft was referring to. He said he liked the Marlon Brando one, Part I, better, and was referring to the same. Anyhow, he is one among many critics to unleash a tirade of sorts. Some pundits have even demanded the players who voted for Lionel Messi to be barred from the voting again.

Team Messi faces the flak for snubbing Erling Haaland

FIFA’s The Best Award 2023 considered players’ achievements from December 19 2022 to August 20, 2023. Lionel Messi won the World Cup a day before the said period, and the Ligue 1 title and Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup win are his only achievements during the stipulated time. Though he scored consistently for PSG and Miami, the numbers don’t match that of Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. Therefore, ESPN analyst Janusz Michallik bashed the NT captains who favored Messi. “Everyone who voted for Messi to win it should be barred,” said Michallik.

Scott McTominay Picks Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo & Kylian Mbappe’s Skills for His Ultimate Player

Mbappe, Robert Lewandowski, Mohamed Salah, and Luka Modric, among others, chose La Pulga while voting. It is important to note that their choices were used as a tie-breaker after both Lionel Messi and Haaland registered tied with 48 votes.

What are your thoughts? Was Lionel Messi’s win unfair? Tell us in the comments below.

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