Lionel Messi did it again, this is the ideal team of the year in South America

During 2023 Lionel Messi had a great level with Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami and the Argentine National Team. In France, despite criticism from fans and the press, he was a key player in the team's Ligue 1 title. After his contract expired there, he agreed to join The Herons and quickly became the team's star player, leading them to the Leagues Cup title and the US Open Cup final. And with Argentina he enjoyed his first year as world champion with several friendly matches and the start of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, in which they are the sole leaders of the standings after six games.

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These performances earned him individual accolades, such as the France Football's Ballon d'Or he won in October in Paris and being a finalist in FIFA's The Best awards. But that's not all. He was also chosen in the ideal team of the year in the world by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, alongside other stars such as Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane.

This week the IFFHS shared the most outstanding XI of 2023 of South American players and there, obviously, is also Leo. He is one of the six Argentine players who are part of the team. The others are Tottenham center-back Cristian Romero and Benfica defender Nicolas Otamendi; Liverpool midfielder Alexis MacAllister; and Inter striker Lautaro Martinez and Fluminense's German Cano.

In addition, there are three players from Uruguay's national team: Barcelona's Ronaldo Araujo, Real Madrid's Federico Valverde and Liverpool's Darwin Nuñez. The last two are Brazilians: Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson and Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior.

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Who are the absentees?

In the ideal team of South American players of 2023 shared by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, the absence of some top stars was surprising, such as Al-Hilal's Neymar Junior, Real Madrid's Rodrygo Goes, Paris Saint-Germain's Marquinhos, Manchester City's Julian Alvarez and Liverpool's Luis Diaz.