Ghana’s sole Sports Journalist on the FIFA media Voting panel for the 2023 ‘FIFA BEST and the Reigning Sports Journalist of the Year Gary AL Smith of the Multimedia group Snubbed Lionel Messi in his top 3 choice for the 2023 best Men’s Player of the year.
Instead, the Ghanaian known for his top analytical abilities chose Norway’s Erling Haaland as his first choice, helping the Manchester City forward to a split points with eventual winner Lionel Messi
Gary who was recently crowned the Ghana Sports Writers Association Sports Journalist of the Year surprising left France international Kylian Mbappe in his top 3, but rather went for his African Compatriot Victor Osimhen, and Spanish midfielder Rodri.
Gary Al Smith voted Erling Haaland, Rodri, and Osimhen in the order of his top 3, a vote that helped Haaland to match the Argentine Captain on the same points
Messi topped an incredibly closely contested poll ahead of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. With the 2022 World Cup winner and the Norway International locked together, on 48 points, they were separated by the number of first choice nominations that Messi received in votes from the national team captains
