Cristiano With Subtle Instagram Message Moments After Messi Wins FIFA’s Best Men’s Player Award

• Cristiano Ronaldo sent out a subtle message on Instagram on Monday
• His post came moments after Lionel Messi won FIFA Best Men's Player
• Messi narrowly beat Norwegian star, Erling Haaland, to win the award

Cristiano Ronaldo’s perfectly timed Instagram post on Monday, January 16, has left fans believing he was sending a message to his eternal rival, Lionel Messi.

Messi was crowned the Best FIFA Men's Player for 2023, just months after a record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or, as he beat Erling Haaland to another coveted individual award.

Ronaldo, who was not part of the final voting process, dropped a message on Instagram moments after Messi’s feat was confirmed.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner posted an image of himself smiling, along with the caption, “Back for more”.

Messi’s latest win coupled with Ronaldo’s omission from the FIFPro World XI has caused its fair share of controversy on social media.

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Ronaldo, who joined Saudi Arabia club Al Nassr at the tail end of 2022, beat all the big footballing names in 2023 in terms of goal scored with 54 strikes for club and country.

The former Real Madrid superstar did not even make the FIFPRO Men's World XI.

However, the award recognizes individual performances of players from December 19, 2022 and August 20, 2023, a time during which Messi famously guided Argentina to a World Cup triumph, per Sky Sports.

Haaland, despite winning the treble with Manchester City and scoring 30 goals in all competitions before August 20 2023, emerged second.

What is Cristiano up to?

After another impressive goal-scoring year, Cristiano Ronaldo is enjoying a brief winter break before returning to action for Al Nassr.

He is still on the hunt for a first league title with the Saudi giants, who sit second on the log, seven points behind league leaders, Al Hilal.

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Ronaldo and Messi are also likely to meet in possibly ‘the last dance’ on February 1 in the Riyadh Season Cup game involving Inter Miami and Al Nassr, as per GOAL.com.

Players who voted for Messi

Sports Brief also highlighted some of the big names who voted for Messi to win the FIFA Best Men’s Player.

Messi tied with Haaland on 48 points, but the deadlock was broken after the Argentine received more first-choice nominations from national team captains (13 to 11).

It has now emerged that the likes of Mohamed Salah, Kylian Mbappe, Luka Modric and Harry Kane all voted for Messi.