MESSI NAMED FIFA THE BEST MEN’S PLAYER FOR 2022

The 2022 FIFA Best Men’s Player award was given to Lionel Messi on Monday during an event in Paris.

Last December in Qatar, Messi, 35, led Argentina to its first World Cup victory in 36 years when the La Albiceleste defeated France in a penalty shootout. The World Cup-winning team’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, was recognized as the best male coach, and Emiliano Martinez was voted the best male goalkeeper.

To win the FIFA award for the seventh time in 14 years, Messi defeated fellow Frenchmen Kylian Mbappé and Karim Benzema in the best player voting.

The three athletes were chosen for the final shortlist by a worldwide jury made up of national team leaders and coaches, hand-picked journalists from each of FIFA’s 211 member nations, and online supporters.

🏆 𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜 🏆
#TheBest FIFA Men’s Player Award 2022 goes to Lionel Messi! 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/HXEugVH1t9

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) February 27, 2023

“To be able to realize my ambition, for which I had worked so hard, this year was just crazy for me. As he accepted his trophy, Messi remarked, “I finally got it, and it was the most wonderful thing that has occurred in my career.

Every football player has that dream, but only a select few can make it come true, said Messi.

For the second consecutive year, Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas took home the FIFA Best Women’s Player honor. Mary Earps of England was voted the top goalkeeper for women.

Sarina Wiegman, who coached England to victory at the Women’s European Championship, won the prize for best female coach.

Marcin Oleksy, a football player from Poland, became the first amputee athlete to receive the FIFA Puskas Award. Oleksy, a 35-year-old player for Warta Poznan against Stal Rzeszow, scored a spectacular overhead kick goal.

Don’t think we’ll get tired of seeing this one 🔥

A worthy Puskás Award winner 🇵🇱🏆#TheBest

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) February 28, 2023

The best fan prize went to the Argentinian supporters. On behalf of the whole fan base, 82-year-old Carlos Tula, who has been at every World Cup since 1974, accepted the prize.

Luka Lochoshvili, a defender from Cremona, was given the FIFA Fair Play Award. Georg Teigl, an Austria Wien player, was saved from certain death by Lochoshvili while he was playing for Wolfsberger AC in Austria. After a collision, Teigl lost consciousness, but the 24-year-old Georgian responded immediately to stop Teigl from swallowing his tongue.

Pelé, who passed away late last year at age 82 after a battle with colon cancer, was honored during the Paris ceremony. Marcia Aoki, the widow of football legend Pelé, accepted a prize in his honor from former Brazil striker Ronaldo.

She stated, “I have three words to say to God who gave us Edson, to Edson who gave us Pelé, and to the world who received them so well: ‘Grateful, thankful and grateful.'”

Full list of award winners

Best Men’s Player

Lionel Messi (Argentina/Paris Saint-Germain)

Best Women’s Player

Alexia Putellas (Spain/FC Barcelona)

Best Men’s Goalkeeper

Emiliano Martinez (Argentina/Aston Villa)

Best Women’s Goalkeeper

Mary Earps (England/Manchester United)

Best Men’s Coach

Lionel Scaloni (Argentina)

Best Women’s Coach

Sarina Wiegman (England)

FIFA Puskas Award

Marcin Oleksy (Poland/Warta Poznań)

FIFA Fair Play Award

Luka Lochoshvili (Georgia/Wolfsberger AC/U.S. Cremonese)

FIFA Fan Award

Argentinian Fans