Haaland beats Messi, de Bruyne to win UEFA player award

Erling Haaland has won the 2022/23 UEFA Men’s Player of the Year.

The Manchester City forward was announced the winner on Thursday in Monaco ahead of teammate Kevin de Bruyne, and former Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi.

This is the second individual honour Haaland will be claiming this week following his PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.

The 23-year-old forward scored 52 goals in 53 games as Man City won a treble — the UCL, English Premier League (EPL), FA Cup.

“I feel good, what more can I say. I won the treble at 22 and I am living the dream,” he said while accepting the award.

“It was my dream when young, so to do this with my teammates it is something special and I am really happy it gives me so much more motivation.

“We have to be more prepared and sharper this season. For me, it is motivation and I am ready to try and do my best and have new great season.”

🥇 The 2022/23 UEFA Men's Player of the Year is ERLING HAALAND!

Goal after goal was followed by medal after medal as the Norwegian striker and his team-mates swept all before them in his debut season in England.

Congratulations, @ErlingHaaland!#UEFAawards pic.twitter.com/8zCSDY5QAw

— UEFA (@UEFA) August 31, 2023

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Other awards on the night saw Pep Guardiola named UEFA men’s coach of the year for leading Man City to the treble.

Sarina Wiegman and Aitana Bonmati were also named UEFA women’s coach and player of the year respectively.