NEW DELHI: Lionel Messi, the captain of Argentina, has been named Time magazine's Athlete of the Year for 2023. Messi won the Ballon d'Or for a record-breaking eighth time and, by moving to Inter Miami, raised awareness of the sport in the US.
When Argentina defeated the reigning champions France in the World Cup final in December of last year, Messi was a major factor in leading his country to its first victory in 36 years.
1/10:Lionel Messi named Time's 'Athlete of the Year'
AFP
2/10:Lionel Messi
<p>Lionel Messi has been named Time magazine's "Athlete of the Year" for 2023. </p>AFP
3/10:Ballon d'Or
<p>Messi had a trailblazing season marked by an eighth Ballon d'Or award and his ground-breaking move to Major League Soccer's Inter Miami. </p>AFP
4/10:American sporting landscape
<p>Time said the Argentine superstar had already had a transformative impact on the American sporting landscape, which has been historically slow to embrace football. </p>AFP
5/10:Miami debut
<p>The 36-year-old Messi made his debut for Miami in July following an acrimonious departure from Paris Saint-Germain. </p>AFP
6/10:World Cup-winner
<p>The World Cup-winner also rebuffed a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia in favor of a new chapter in MLS. </p>Reuters
7/10:Instant impact
<p>The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner made an instant impact on Miami's fortunes, playing a pivotal role in helping the team win the expanded Leagues Cup. </p>AFP
8/10:Injury setback
<p>Messi finished the campaign with 11 goals in 14 appearances across all competitions, but an injury towards the end of the season meant he was unable to help Miami force their way into the playoffs. </p>Reuters
9/10:No fairytale return
<p>Messi was quoted by Time as saying that his first preference after PSG had been a fairytale return to Barcelona, but that move stalled over the club's finances. </p>AFP
10/10:Messi's arrival
<p>Time said Messi's arrival had driven a surge in attendances, ticket prices, merchandise sales and viewership. </p>AFPThe 36-year-old was linked to both his former team, Barcelona, and a high-profile move to Saudi side Al-Hilal, but he turned down both offers when he left Paris St. Germain earlier this year in favor of signing for Major League Soccer's Inter Miami.
"The truth is that fortunately, I had several options on the table that were interesting, and I had to analyse them and think, even weigh them up with my family, before making the final decision to come to Miami," Messi told Time.
Messi made an immediate impression at Miami, where he led them to victory in the League Cup, an event that includes teams from Mexico and Major League Soccer, with 10 goals in seven games.
Beyond the field, the Argentine's arrival in the United States created a stir. Fans snapped up his official pink Inter Miami shirt and searches for match dates and tickets skyrocketed.
According to research firm Antenna, the cost of Inter Miami game tickets increased dramatically, while Apple TV, which has a 10-year partnership with the MLS, saw a notable rise in subscriptions.
"Messi managed to do what once seemed impossible: turning the U.S. into a soccer country," Time wrote.
The United States women's soccer team, LeBron James, and Simone Biles have all won the trophy recently; Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees will take home the trophy in 2022.
(With Reuters inputs)
