Lionel Messi has become the first footballer to win The Best FIFA Men’s Player award three times.
Messi, 36, was confirmed as the 2023 winner at The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony in London on Monday.
However, Messi was not present at the party as he was with his Inter Miami teammates preparing for a pre-season friendly against El Salvador on Friday.
Messi topped the vote ahead of fellow finalists Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
The Argentina captain had previously won the award for his exploits in 2019 and 2022.
The Best FIFA Football Awards are usually based on performances across a calendar year – unlike the Ballon d’Or, which judges players on their achievements over the course of a season.