Sports
Overview of the FIFA Awards As Messi, Pep, and Others Received Honors
Football Stars Barometer by Betzillion: Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Others Reviewed
Football is one of the most important sports in the world. Since it has many followers across the globe, betting on the sport is also on the rise. We can help you stay informed about what’s happening in football. Let’s share some information about the event in light of the just-concluded 2023 FIFA Award Night.
Live Updates: Lionel Messi Secures FIFA Best Awards 2023 Prize; Bonmati, Guardiola, and Wiegman Recognized

Lionel Messi won his record 8th Ballon d’Or in 2023, but the Argentina skipper appears not to be stopping yet as he bagged the Men FIFA Best Award. Bagging the award for the third time, he edged Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé, who took the second and third positions.
It has caused an uproar in the football nation, as some believe he doesn’t deserve the award.
Messi is not the only one whose award is questioned, as the England National Women’s Coach Sarina Wiegman’s Best Female Manager award also raised some controversy.
We will analyze the January 15th event in London by discussing comments from readers. We will also discuss other top awards at the event, including the newly introduced award in honor of the Brazilian legend Marta.
Puskás Award Voting Results – Santos Emerges as Fans’ Top Choice
The Puskás Award remained one of the honors many looked out for at FIFA Award Night. It honors Ferenc Puskás, who had many stunning goals in his collection. With the top incredible goals scored between December 2022 and August 20, 2023, contesting for this award, the votes from expert Panelists and fans determine the winner.
While Guilherme Madruga won with an overall score of 22 points, the voting shows fans preferred Nuno Santos’s goal with 18 points. Comparing the goals, Madruga scored an overhead kick against Novorizontino for Botafogo-SP, while Santos scored a daring 15-yard Rabona kick for Sporting against Boavista.
A closer look at the voting shows that 11 out of 18 points that Santos got are from the fans, as opposed to Madruga’s 9. But the Panelist votes came through for the Brazilian, with 13 points against Santos’s seven from the Panelists. Even Brighton’s Julio Enciso’s long-range stunner gathered more points (11) from the Panelists.
The total points for the FIFA Puskás award are 50, and Madruga’s 22 points were enough to clinch the award. You can check the table below for the full breakdown of the votes.
| Rank | Names | Panelists Points | Fans Points | Total |
| 1 | Guilherme Madruga | 13 | 9 | 22 |
| 2 | Nuno Santos | 7 | 11 | 18 |
| 3 | Julio Enciso | 11 | 6 | 17 |
Reader Feedback: Questioning Wiegman’s Selection as the Best Coach
Another exciting 2023 FIFA Award Night award that got people talking was the Best Coach award given to England’s Sarina Wiegman. Manchester City’s Boss, Pep Guardiola, won the men’s version of the award, and everyone believes he deserves it with his team’s incredible treble in 2023. But we can’t say the same for Wiegman’s accolade, as some believe other candidates should have won it.
The Dutchwoman won two trophies with the in-form English women’s team and even made it to the finals of the World Cup. Since she couldn’t deliver the World Cup, which the Spanish National team won, some football fans believed she didn’t deserve it. Some football fans blamed the final loss on her poor selection and choice of substitute.
Some suggested Jonatan Giráldez, the in-form Barcelona Femeni team coach, should have won the accolade. The poll says otherwise, with Wiegman (28 points) gapping the second-placed Chelsea Women Boss, Emma Hayes (18 points). Jonatan Giráldez came in third with 14 points. She has won the FIFA Women’s Manager of the Year for the fourth time, previously winning in 2022, 2020, and 2017.
Women national team coaches, captains, football journalists, and fans determined the polls for this award. The voting is on the official FIFA website. You can see the poll results below.
| Rank | Name | Coaches | Captains | Media | Fans | Point scored |
| 1 | Sarina Wiegman | 688 | 791 | 627 | 169,193 | 28 |
| 2 | Emma Hayes | 356 | 359 | 297 | 122,871 | 18 |
| 3 | Jonatan Giráldez | 320 | 284 | 339 | 120,842 | 14 |
Subscriber Niko N Raises Doubts on Men’s Award Winner: Messi’s World Cup Triumph vs. Haaland’s Club Season Brilliance
The FIFA Men’s Best Player Award has always been the event’s highlight, and the 2023 Award wasn’t an exception. The three finalists were Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, and Lionel Messi, with the latter winning it despite not being present at the event.
You would agree that the best football odds are in the World Cup, English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and other major league matches quite popular on Betzillion. With Messi winning the World Cup and Haaland winning the U.C.L. and EPL, the tied result of the top candidates wasn’t too surprising. They both scored 48 points, while Mbappé scored 35.
The Argentine Captain won it because he had more first-place votes than the others, but some of our readers have contrary opinions. For instance, Niko N believes Haaland’s impact on Manchester City’s treble weighs more than Messi’s World Cup victories. The subscriber also believed Messi didn’t perform well at the club level despite helping P.S.G. win their 11th league title.
Many believed Lionel Messi is still the best, judging from how the poll went, as he received the most first-place votes from national team coaches, captains, journalists, and fans. Since he was absent, his former teammate and co-host, Thierry Henry, received the award on his behalf. Kylian Mbappe and Haaland were on the Men’s World 11 line-up; you can check the full 11 via this tweet.
Tally of Votes for Coach Awards
Looking at the coaches’ category of the awards, the winners gapped their runner-ups by 10 points each. It shows Both Guardiola and Wiegman had impressive campaigns in 2023. Pep Guardiola led Manchester City’s team to the UEFA Champions League, English Premier League, and F.A. Cup titles.
Despite losing in the final of the World Cup, Sarina Wiegman also had an impressive campaign. She won the Arnold Clark Cup and the Women’s Finalissima for the Lioness. Compare the margin of votes for the two categories below:
Men’s Coach:
- Pep Guardiola – 28 points
- Luciano Spalletti – 18 points
- Simone Inzaghi – 11 points
- Xavi – 11 points
- Ange Postecoglou – 4 points
Women’s Coach:
- Sarina Wiegman – 28 points
- Emma Hayes – 18 points
- Jonatan Giraldez – 14 points
- Peter Gerhardsson – 7
- Tony Gustavsson – 5
Thierry Henry Unveils the Marta Award: A New Annual Honor for the Finest Goal in Women’s Global Football
The Women’s Best Player award, won by Spain and Barcelona Femeni’s Aitana Bonmatí, was one of the highlights of the women’s category at the awards. She won 52 points, ahead of Linda Caicedo (40 points) and Jennifer Hermoso (36 points), and the Six-time Winner, Marta, received recognition.
Marta gave an emotional speech, encouraging women around the world. The host, Henry, then announced that FIFA will start giving a new award in her name starting next year. It will be the female version of the Puskás Awards for the best goals scored by female footballers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the most FIFA Men’s Player of the Year?
Lionel Messi has the most FIFA Men’s Player Award after winning it for the 3rd time in January 2024. While retaining the award from 2022, he first won it in 2019. Lionel Messi won the 2023 edition of the FIFA Men’s Best Player. He had 48 points from the poll, tying with Erling Haaland, and the body crowned him because he had more first-place votes.
Who is the FIFA Women’s Best Player for 2023?
Aitana Bonmatí won the 2023 Women’s Best Player Award, inspiring Spain to the triumph of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. She also won titles with Barcelona. Linda Caicedof, Real Madrid, is in second place.
Sports
Top Choices Only at PariPesa Nigeria
If you’re looking for a fun, reliable, and exciting online betting experience in Nigeria, you’re in the right place. PariPesa Nigeria brings together casino entertainment, sports betting, and modern gaming options designed just for you. Let’s break it all down.
Casino Games
At PariPesa Nigeria, the casino lobby is brimming with exciting games. They are split into categories to help you navigate. You can search for titles using the search bar or narrow down the type of game you enjoy using the filter menu on the left-hand side of the page.
The filters on the left let you pick based on provider, feature, theme, and game types. If there is a title you particularly like, you can also favorite it! There are two separate categories of casino entertainment that depend on your individual casino activity. Recent games are all the ones you have tried, and the favorites section, as you can guess, lists the ones you starred.
Take a look at the main categories of games available.
Slots
Slots are the most popular casino games. They’re beginner-friendly, simple to follow, and you can try them for free in demo mode! At PariPesa Nigeria, you’ll find classic, video, and jackpot slots. Some have Nigerian-themed designs, bright colors, and sound effects that bring the experience close to home.
Table games
Are you a blackjack fan or do you prefer to watch the wheel spin in roulette? Either way, PariPesa Nigeria has a large selection of table games for you to choose from. You will find multiple variations of these titles, along with tables with varying betting ranges. Poker has by far the largest number of variants.
Crash games
These games have extremely quick rounds, so understand the mechanics before you place any real money bets. The concept is simple, really: a multiplier increases, and you cash out before an object “crashes.” The longer you wait, the higher your potential win, but if it crashes before you cash out, you lose that round. Aviator, Chicken Crash, and Doodle Crash are among the more popular games in this category.
Live casino games
Those tired of playing against generated algorithms will find live casino games a welcome break. At PariPesa, you can play poker, blackjack, roulette, and more against a live croupier. You can interact with your dealer and watch everything that happens in real time through video streaming. Remember that these tables are time sensitive, so you will have to place your bets before the window closes, and no, you cannot demo these games.
Sports Betting
Nigerians love sports, and what better way is there to be a part of the action than betting? Football is obviously the favorite, but you can also wager on over 150 sports at PariPesa. You can use the in-house statistics to make well informed bets on your preferred teams and players. Furthermore, the betting markets at PariPesa are top-notch.
- Over/Under
- Total Score
- Match Winner
These are only some of the many, many bets you can place.
eSports
eSports are a hit among young Nigerians. Games like FIFA, CS:GO, and Dota 2 have become part of the sports betting market, and they’re big players. Instead of physical matches, you’re betting on professional gamers competing online.
Virtual Sports
If you enjoy sports but want a quick fix, virtual sports are computer-generated matches that run all day, every day. There are no weather issues and no match postponements or player injuries to affect your strategy. Results are decided by certified random systems, so they’re fair and unpredictable.
Responsible Gambling Policy
No matter what, responsible gaming is an important feature of any online casino platform. PariPesa Nigeria takes this policy very seriously, too. This means you’re encouraged to play for fun, not to chase losses or risk money you can’t afford to lose. You can use the following tools to make sure you don’t go overboard.
- Deposit limits
- Self-exclusion between 6 months and 1 year.
- Session limits
- Regular check-ins
If you ever feel that gambling is becoming a problem, use the resources available online to get help.
PariPesa is synonymous with a complete gaming experience in Nigeria. From casino games and betting to eSports and virtual sports, everything is covered. The navigation is simple, reliable, and let’s be honest, entertaining! So, join PariPesa Nigeria today and enjoy top choices made for people like you!
Sports
Sports Betting Site in Nigeria: Helabet. Every Bet Matters
In Nigeria, football no be ordinary game. It’s part of how we live every day. From early kick-off on Saturday to late Champions League matches during the week, football dey everywhere. Viewing centres full, group chats noisy, Twitter dey hot. Everybody get opinion, everybody sabi coach.
Naturally, betting don become part of the football culture. But Nigerians don wise pass before. People no dey rush into any platform again. If a betting site no dey stable, no dey transparent, or dey give withdrawal wahala, Nigerians go drop am sharp sharp.
That’s why Helabet dey slowly but surely find its space as a betting site in Nigeria wey people fit actually rely on.
Betting site in Nigeria
To run a successful betting site in Nigeria, you must understand Nigerians very well. We like things straight. No stress. No confusion. No unnecessary grammar.
Helabet keeps things simple. Registration no hard. The platform clean and easy to move around. You no need ask anybody “how do I bet?” once you open the site. Everything dey clear from the beginning.
Trust na big factor. Nigerians no dey joke with their money. Once people notice say withdrawals dey smooth and no unnecessary delay, confidence go build naturally. That’s how betting sites survive here — not by noise, but by consistency.
Helabet fits into that category of platforms wey people dey quietly stick with because e dey do wetin e promise.
Online sports betting
These days, most people dey bet with their phone. No be everybody get time to go betting shop or sit down for long. With online sports betting, you fit place your bet anywhere — at home, at work break, or even inside traffic.
Helabet supports this lifestyle well. The site works smoothly on mobile, and markets load fast. Football dey dominate, as expected, but other sports dey available too for people wey like mix things up.
Whether na Premier League, Champions League, international matches, or weekend fixtures, options dey plenty. The odds dey fair enough to keep serious bettors interested, not just people wey dey try luck.
For many Nigerians, betting no be about rushing. Na about reading the game and placing smart bets. Helabet allows that kind of approach.

Live sports betting
This is where things get interesting. Live sports betting na for people wey dey follow matches closely.
Game fit change anytime. One goal, one red card, one mistake — everything turn. With Helabet, you fit react while the match dey go on. Markets update fast, and you no dey struggle to place bet before odds change.
For Nigerians wey dey watch match and dey say “this game still get something,” live betting gives that chance to act in real time, not after everything don finish.
It makes watching football more engaging, especially for people wey understand how momentum works in a match.
Why Helabet Makes Sense for Nigerians
Helabet no dey try too hard to impress. E just focuses on doing the basics well — smooth betting, solid online sports betting, reliable live sports betting, and stress-free experience.
For Nigerians wey dey look for a betting site in Nigeria wey understand how football and betting really work here, Helabet dey earn its place gradually.
No noise. No hype. Just steady service — and for betting, that’s what really matters.
Sports
2025 AFCON Final: CAF Suspends Coach Thiaw, Hakimi, Others
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Disciplinary Board of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has imposed a series of sanctions on the Senegal and Morocco as well as some players and officials, following conducts believed to be inappropriate at the dramatic 2025 African Cup of Nations final nearly two weeks ago.
In a statement posted on its website on Wednesday night, CAF said the sanctions were handed down for violations of its Disciplinary Code, including breaches of the principles of fair play, loyalty and integrity, during and after the final match.
As part of the decisions against Senegal, CAF suspended the head coach of the Senegalese national team, Pape Bouna Thiaw, for five official CAF matches for his “unsporting conduct” and “for bringing the game into disrepute.”
“Mr Pape Bouna Thiaw was also fined $100,000,” a part of the statement read.
Recall that Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 in the January 18 final in Rabat that was delayed for over 14 minutes after a controversial penalty was awarded in the dying minutes of the game, triggering the Senegalese coach to instruct his team to leave the pitch.
CAF also decided to “suspend the Senegalese national team player, Mr Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye for two official CAF matches, for his unsporting behaviour towards the referee.
“To suspend Senegalese national team player, Mr Ismaila Sarr for two official CAF matches for his unsporting behaviour towards the referee.
“To fine the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), $300,000 for the improper conduct of its supporters, which brought the game into disrepute in violation of the CAF Disciplinary Code principles of fair play and integrity.
“To fine the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), $300,000 for the unsporting conduct of their players and technical staff in violation of the CAF Disciplinary Code principles of fair play, loyalty and integrity. The unsporting conduct of their players and the technical staff also brought the game into disrepute.
“To fine the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), $15,000 for the misconduct of its national team, due to five of its players having received cautions.”
With regard to Morocco, CAF suspended national team defender, Achraf Hakimi, for two official CAF matches, with one of the matches suspended for one year from the date of the decision, for unsporting behaviour. Also, PSV Midfielder Ismaël Saibari was suspended for three official CAF matches and fined $100,000 for the same offence.
The Morocco team was fined $200,000 for the inappropriate behaviour of stadium ball boys during the final.
CAF also imposed a fine of $100,000 on the Moroccan federation for the improper conduct of its players and technical staff, who invaded the VAR review area and obstructed the referee’s work.
An additional fine of $15,000 was issued for the use of lasers by Moroccan supporters during the match.
Meanwhile, CAF also ruled on a protest lodged by Morocco concerning alleged violations of Articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations by the Senegal national team.
“The CAF Disciplinary Board rejected the protest lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football regarding alleged violations by the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations, relating to the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Final,” the statement added.
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