Former Manchester City captain Richard Dunne recently expressed his satisfaction with Lionel Messi winning the 2023 FIFA Best Men’s Player award over Erling Haaland, a star of his former club. Dunne highlighted that the award shouldn’t solely prioritize goal-scoring statistics.
In an interview with William Hill, Dunne emphasized Messi’s overall footballing excellence, stating, “It’s very hard. You can look at it and go: ‘Is Haaland the best footballer in the world? Probably not. Is he the best goalscorer? Yeah, so if the award is for that, then great.”
Dunne further elaborated on his admiration for Messi’s style of play, emphasizing the Argentine’s ability to entertain with his dribbling skills and creativity on the field.
He remarked, “I love watching Messi play football. Some players play football that are just from a different planet at times.”
While acknowledging Haaland’s remarkable goal-scoring prowess, Dunne underscored the importance of entertainment and flair in football, areas where Messi excels. He concluded, “If it’s a statistical trophy, then the guys who score goals will always win it.”
Messi’s victory in the Ballon d’Or last year marked his eighth career win, further solidifying his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
