Virat Kohli Beats Lionel Messi To Win Pubity Male Athlete of The Year Award; Check Out The Victory Margin

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In a notable accomplishment, star Indian cricketer Virat Kohli secured victory in the Pubity Male Athlete of The Year Award, surpassing the Argentine football legend Lionel Messi.

The announcement was made on December 31, with Kohli - the Indian batting maestro - earning widespread recognition for his exceptional performances throughout 2023.

Virat Kohli Pips Lionel Messi

At 35 years old, Kohli secured an impressive 78-22 majority of votes against Lionel Messi. The right-handed top-order batter had a standout year in 2023, showcasing stellar performances across various formats and earning the Player of the Tournament title in the ICC Cricket World Cup in India.

Kohli - who was part of the 2011 World Cup-winning Indian side under MS Dhoni's leadership - failed to lift the ODI World Cup 2023 at home as the Men In Blue lost to Australia in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

His excellence extended to both Tests and ODIs, marked by record-breaking achievements such as being the first batter to achieve 50 ODI centuries. Notably, he set a world record for the highest run tally in a single edition of the World Cup, accumulating an impressive 765 runs.

The former India captain's remarkable contributions on the cricket field garnered him a substantial fan base and global acclaim. Competing against notable athletes like Messi, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, LeBron James, and Max Verstappen, Kohli secured an authoritative 78% of the votes, while Messi received 28%.

Despite Messi clinching the Times Athlete of the Year, Kohli's dominance in the Pubity Male Athlete of The Year Award underscored his widespread popularity and achievements in the sports realm.

While Messi had a relatively ordinary year in 2023, Kohli's extraordinary performances, particularly in the World Cup, played a pivotal role in his triumph at the Pubity Awards. The consistent excellence and record-breaking feats of the 35-year-old Indian batsman further solidified his position as one of the foremost athletes on the global stage.