Lionel Messi is first footballer named as Time magazine’s ‘Athlete of the Year’
Lionel Messi became the first ever individual football player to be named TIME Magazine's 'Athlete of the Year'.
The Inter Miami star had only recently finished celebrating after scooping up his record breaking eighth Ballon d'Or award. He beat Manchester City Treble winner Erling Haaland and World Cup finalist Kylian Mbappe to the iconic individual award.
He has also taken the United States by storm with 11 goals and five assists in his first 14 appearances for David Beckham's side, who also won the Leagues Cup in the Argentinian captain's first campaign. After another historic season, the 36-year-old added a new individual honour to his trophy cabinet.
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TIME announced Messi as their 2023 Athlete of the Year. He is the first ever individual soccer star to be awarded the honour in the magazine's history.
In 2019, the US Women's National Team were the first ever soccer players to be accredited with the award. The other proceeding individual honours were scooped up by LA Lakers icon LeBron James, gymnastics superstar Simone Biles and baseball legend Aaron Judge.
What is your reaction to Lionel Messi being given the award? Let us know in the comment section below
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In October, Messi was awarded the Ballon d'Or, which was presented to him by his new boss David Beckham. The former England captain has not stopped smiling ever since the Barcelona legend snubbed interest from Saudi Arabia to sign for the Floridian giants.
After Messi received his award from Beckham at the ceremony in Paris, he said: ""I want to make one last mention of Maradona. Happy birthday, I think there is no better place than here to congratulate him, full of players and with a ball. This Ballon d’Or is also yours and that of all of Argentina.
"All the awards have been special, but I always emphasise the importance of the team. This is secondary. Look at City, they have been the best and achieved everything last season.
"I have been very lucky, I have played for the best team in the world, the best in history, I have been able to win many individual awards thanks to that. With Argentina I have had very bad times, but I never gave up on winning the Copa America and World Cup, and that's why I'm proud of not having given up.
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