(Image Source: BCCI)
[Saba Sports News] Virat Kohli decisively outpolled Lionel Messi to be crowned Pubity Athlete of the Year 2023, clinching the title with a significant 78-22 margin over the Argentine soccer icon. Pubity, an influential online community with a substantial presence across over 20 channels and a following of over 35 million on Instagram, conducted this poll through their sports-focused subsidiary, Pubity Sport.
The voting system featured numerous renowned athletes including Cristiano Ronaldo, Novak Djokovic, Pat Cummins, LeBron James, Erling Haaland, and Max Verstappen, structured in a knockout format. The final showdown was between Messi and Kohli, with the Indian cricketer emerging victoriously.
Kohli’s 2023 achievements were remarkable. He ended the year as the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket, trailing Shubman Gill by just 106 runs. Notably, he did not participate in any T20I matches in 2023. His standout performance was at the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he scored 765 runs in 11 innings, becoming the top run-scorer of the tournament.
Recently, Kohli played in the first Test against South Africa, scoring 38 and 76 runs in the first and second innings, respectively. However, India lost the match and is behind in the two-match series. The next Test is scheduled to start on January 3 in Cape Town.
In contrast, Messi’s 2023 was highlighted by winning the Ballon d’Or after leading Argentina to their third FIFA World Cup victory in 2022. His performance in the World Cup, with seven goals and three assists, earned him the Golden Ball.
Additionally, he played a pivotal role in Paris Saint-Germain’s 2022-2023 Ligue 1 championship win, contributing 41 goals and numerous assists.