Why Messi didn't attend FIFA's Best awards despite winning top prize

The reason Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi didn't attend FIFA's Best awards despite winning the top prize on Monday in London has been revealed.

Recall that Messi was named FIFA's Best men's award winner after finishing top of the three-man shortlist that also featured Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Paris Saint-German's Kylian Mbappe.

The Argentine did not attend FIFA's Best awards ceremony in London in favour of staying in the United States to train with Inter Miami.

Neither Haaland nor Mbappe was present.

However, according to respected Spanish journalist Guillem Balague,
the 2023 Ballon d'Or winner made the decision not to travel because the distance involved in travelling to London would have resulted in nearly a week of pre-season training being missed.

Balague posted an online update that read:

"Reason of Messi absence in London.

"Messi has started training for Inter Miami and travelling to London would have meant 3/4 days lost.

"He has to adjust to his new football calendar. He had some physical problems second half of the year and he wants to do a proper preseason."