Time named Lionel Messi its Athlete of the Year in 2023. The magazine recognized the Argentine captain after he led Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title and then made a headline-grabbing move to Inter Miami.
The award reflected both achievement and influence. Messi’s World Cup campaign included seven goals, the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, and a victory over France in a final widely regarded as one of the greatest in football history. In July 2023, he joined Inter Miami after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, bringing enormous global attention to Major League Soccer.
A common mix-up is Time’s separate Person of the Year award. In 2023, Time selected Taylor Swift as Person of the Year, while Messi received the distinct Athlete of the Year honor. The magazine also published a major cover story about his career, Argentina’s triumph, and his next chapter in the United States.