You won't believe who Spain boss Luis de la Fuente voted for in Best FIFA Men's Player category, Lionel Messi left out

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente shockingly snubbed Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema from his top three picks for Best FIFA Men’s Player award.

Messi on Monday scooped the Best FIFA Men’s Player prize for the second time after beating Mbappe and Benzema to FIFA’s distinguished award.

The 35-year-old Argentine amassed a 52-point total to be crowned Best FIFA Men’s Player award, with Mbappe and Benzema receiving 44 and 34 respectively.

Journalists and national team head coaches and captains were eligible to cast votes in each category at the Best FIFA Football Awards 2022.

From Best FIFA Men’s Coach to Best FIFA Women’s Player to Best FIFA Men’s Player, the awards were presented at a ceremony in Paris, France.

Votes are allocated to three picks in each category, with first place receiving five points, second choice collecting three points and third choice scoring only one point.

De la Fuente became eligible to cast votes for the Best FIFA awards after succeeding Luis Enrique, who left the Spain national team after his country’s 2022 World Cup exit.

FIFA’s official website posted the full list of votes for Best FIFA Men’s Player, with De la Fuente selecting some interesting choices from the 14-man shortlist.

🏆 𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜 🏆
#TheBest FIFA Men’s Player Award 2022 goes to Lionel Messi! 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/HXEugVH1t9

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) February 27, 2023

The Spain head coach allocated five points to Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez, who impressed during Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar.

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, who was in sensational form with England at the World Cup, was De la Fuente’s second pick and earned three points.

De la Fuente’s final pick went to Croatia midfielder Luka Modric, who lifted the La Liga title and Champions League trophy with Real Madrid last season.

Modric overall came in fourth place with 28 points, while Alvarez came seventh with 17 points and Bellingham narrowly finished ahead of Mohamed Salah in 13th place with three points.

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