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Argentina and Paris St-Germain forward Lionel Messi has been named men’s player of the year at the 2022 Best FIFA Awards.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner who propelled Argentina to its third World Cup title in Qatar last year beat French forwards Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema to the award.
Messi helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, scoring 27 goals in 49 games for club and country in 2021/22.
“Wow, it’s amazing. It’s been a tremendous year and it’s an honour for me to be here tonight and win this award. Without my team-mates I wouldn’t be here. I achieved the dream I had been hoping for so long. Very few people can achieve that and I have been lucky to do so,” Messi said at FIFA award.
Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas was named women’s player of the year.
At the ceremony in Paris, Lionel Scaloni, who led Argentina to their third World Cup title, was named men’s coach of the year.
Scaloni beat Pep Guardiola – who led Manchester City to a sixth Premier League title – and Real Madrid’s Champions League-winning boss Carlo Ancelotti to the honour.
England manager Sarina Wiegman was named women’s coach of the year after guiding the Lionesses to European Championship glory on home soil last year, the team’s first major trophy.
Dutchwoman Wiegman guided England to European Championship glory on home soil last year, the team’s first major trophy.
“From when I could walk I have loved football. It’s just incredible to be right here and to celebrate women’s football. Little girls have their idols and inspirations. So many people across the world have worked so hard to get the game where it is right now,” Wiegman told FIFA.
Amputee footballer Marcin Oleksy of Polish side Warta Poznan won the Fifa Puskas award for the best goal in world football for his stunning strike against Stal Rzeszow, when he sent a powerful overhead volley into the back of the net with the help of his crutches.
Recipient of the fair play award was Luka Lochoshvili, who held the tongue of his opponent, Georg Teigl, to save his life after the midfielder had fallen unconscious.
Fifpro men’s world XI: Thibaut Courtois; Achraf Hakimi, Virgil van Dijk, Joao Cancelo; Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modric, Casemiro; Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe.