Soon-to-be Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has been nominated in three categories for the ESPY 2023 award.
The ESPY award is an award given by famous American broadcast TV station, ABC.
Messi had an impressive 2022/23 campaign for both club and country as he was integral to the successes of Paris Saint Germain and Argentina.
Lionel Messi performances has helped him get nominated in three categories for the ESPY 2023 award
The former Barcelona attacker won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, netting seven goals and providing three assists.
Two of those seven goals came in the final as he led Le Albiceleste to become world champions.
Messi also led Paris Saint Germain to a record 11th Ligue 1 title, the highest for a single club in the history of the French top-flight division.
Lionel Messi scored 16 goals and 16 assists in 32 appearances for PSG last term. This was his best stats at the French club.
The Argentine also won the Trophée des Champions with PSG.
Messi’s performances last season has ultimately earned him a spot in the ESPY Best Championship Performance category.
Candidates also competing with Lionel Messi for the award
Other candidates in the category includes Denvan Nuggets star Nikola Jokic (NBA), Golfer Rose Zhang (LPGA) and mixed martial artist, Leon Edwards (UFC).
Lionel Messi was also nominated in the best athlete category alongside top names like New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (Baseball), Kansas city man Patrick Mahomes (NFL) and Nikola Jokic (NBA).
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was also named in the Best Soccer Player Category alongside Barcelona Femeni midfielder Aitana Bonmati, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Portland Thorn FC’s Sophia Smith.
The ex-Paris Saint Germain attacker who snubbed a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia to join Inter Miami scored 38 goals and provided 25 assists in 52 games during the 2022/23 campaign.
Messi has received an ESPY award in the past, winning the best international athlete award at the 2015 edition of the ESPYs.
The Argentine is also said to be a front-runner for the 2023 Ballon d’Or due to his exploits during the season.
He won the 2022 FIFA The Best Award in February and he is being touted by many to go on to lift another honor.
The MLS and Inter Miami are already making preparations to welcome the big name star who is expected to make his debut for the Miami based side in July 2023.
In May, Lionel Messi also won the Laureus Sports Award and the 2022 world cup triumph appeared crucial to him winning that prize.
It was the second time he was winning the award in his illustrious career filled with a truckload of successes.
He was nominated for the award alongside former teammate Kylian Mbappe, Pole-Vaulter Mondo Duplantis, Tennis great Rafael Nadal, F1 star Max Vestappen, and Golden State Warriors legend Steph Curry.
