PSG and Argentina football icon Lionel Messi has been named the 2022 Best FIFA Men’s Player ahead of his club’s teammate Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid star Karim Benzema at an event held in Paris, France, on Monday night.
Messi played an essential role as Argentina national team won the FIFA World Cup in Qatar last year, scoring seven goals to help the South American nation win its first world title in almost four decades and his first World Cup title to crown his achievements in football.
It would be the second time the former Barcelona star would win the coveted honour after clinching the award in 2019, now tied with long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo with two FIFA Best Awards each.
Barcelona midfielder and Spain international Alexia Putellas was voted The Best FIFA Men’s Player ahead of Arsenal forward and England international Beth Mead and San Diego Wave and the United States Women’s National Team’s Alex Morgan.
She was an important player in the Barcelona Femení’s squad as they won the UEFA Women’s Champions League, Spain Women’s Primera División and the Supercopa de España Femenina last season.
Man United Women’s and England goalkeeper Mary Earps won the FIFA Best women’s goalkeeper thanks to her triumph with the Three Lionesses at the Women’s European Championship last year, while Argentina FIFA World Cup hero Emiliano Martinez won the men’s category.
Polish amputee footballer Marcin Oleksy won the Puskas Award for his overhead kick goal for Warta Poznań against Stal Rzeszów ahead of Richarlison, Dimitri Payet. He made history by becoming the first amputee to win the honour.
Three Lionesses head coach Sarina Weigman won the FIFA’s Best Women’s coach award after leading the England national team to their first-ever European title at the 2020 Women’s European championship; the Dutch have now won the prestigious honour for the third time in her managerial career.
Argentina national team manager Lionel Scaloni was voted the ‘The Best FIFA Men’s Coach’ for 2022 after guiding the La Albiceleste to their first World Cup title in 36 years at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in which they defeated France in the final on penalties to clinch the most prestigious trophy in football.
Georgian footballer Luka Lochoshvili claimed the Fair Play Award – for saving the life of an opponent from swallowing his tongue, while the Best FIFA Award for 2022 went to the Argentina fans.
