PARIS – Argentine Lionel Messi has become the Player of the Year 2022 according to the International Football Federation (FIFA). Striker of Paris St. Germain defeated the other finalists in the poll, Frenchmen Karim Benzema from Real Madrid and his teammate Kylian Mbappé.
At the World Cup in Qatar, 35-year-old Messi led Argentina to a final triumph over France 4:2 after a penalty shootout. The duel ended in regular time 2:2 and 3:3 after extra time.
Messi scored two goals in the match and also converted his attempt in the shootout. He thus won the last major trophy missing from his collection and received the Golden Ball for the best player of the World Cup 2022. He became the first player in history to win this individual award for the second time in his career. He helped the Parisians win the league title and triumph in the French Super Cup.
An award for all of us
“It’s a huge honor for me to stand here. I thank my teammates and coach Scaloni. I couldn’t be here without them. It’s an award for all of us. We did a great job. Not everyone gets to be world champion. It’s a dream come true for me, in that I’ve been hoping for so long. I finally did and it was the shortest thing that’s ever happened to me.” he thanked when receiving the Messi award.
The survey was held for the seventh time under the name The Best FIFA Football Awards. The Spanish Alexia Putellas from FC Barcelona, who defended the championship from last year, was declared the best soccer player.
The best goalkeeper was Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa, who helped Argentina to triumph at the World Cup in Qatar. In the poll, he succeeded in competition between Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Moroccan Yassine Bouno. The honor for the best coach was earned by the coach of the Argentine national team, Lionel Scaloni, who replaced the German Thomas Tuchel on the throne. In the voting, he received more votes than Pep Guardiola (Spain/Manchester City) and Carlo Ancelotti (Italy/Real Madrid).
Emi Martinez wins The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper 🏆
Look at Messi’s reaction 🥹 pic.twitter.com/liwGoNTrem
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 27, 2023
The best goal, according to the voting coaches and captains of the national teams, was scored by the Polish disabled footballer Marcin Oleksy. The Fair Play award was won by Georgian football player Luka Lochošvili, who helped save the life of an opponent’s player with a quick reaction. In the past, he also worked in Slovakia, when he played for Žilina.
Laureates of The Best FIFA Football Awards 2022:
Player: Lionel Messi (Arg./Paríž St. Germain)
Toy: Alexia Putellasová (Sp./FC Barcelona)
Coach: Lionel Scaloni (Arg./representation of Argentina)
Coach of the women’s team: Sarina Wiegmanová (Netherlands/England)
Best goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez (Arg./Aston Villa)
The best goalkeeper: Mary Earpsová (Ang./Manchester United)
Ferenc Puskás Award for the most beautiful goal: Marcin Oleksy (Poland)
Cena Fair Play: Luka Lochošvili (Georgia)
Prize for the best fans: Argentina supporters
FIFA/FIFPro XI of the Year 2022: Thibaut Courtois (Belg.) – Achraf Hakimi (Mar.), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands), Joao Cancelo (Port.) – Kevin de Bruyne (Bel.), Casemiro (Braz.), Luka Modrič (Horr.) – Lionel Messi (Arg.), Karim Benzema (Fr.), Erling Haaland (Nor.), Kylian Mbappe (Fr.)
🔥🔥🔥 Quite offensive the ideal 11 of men’s soccer in THE BEST… 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/pBGIqV5qxU
— DSports (@DSports) February 27, 2023
profile
Lionel Messi (Arg.):
date of birth: 24 June 1987 (35 years old)
height: 170 cm
position: striker
number on the jersey: 10
club career: Paris Saint-Germain (from summer 2021), FC Barcelona (from 2001)
national team 172 matches/98 goals
achievements: 10x Spanish champion, 7x Copa del Rey winner, 8x Spanish Super Cup winner, 1x French champion, 1x French Super Cup winner, 4x Champions League winner, 3x UEFA Super Cup winner, 3x Club World Cup winner, 1x Copa America winner (2021), Olympic winner 2008, world champion 2022 and vice-champion from 2014, 7x the best player according to FIFA, 7x holder of the Ballon d’Or by France Football magazine, 6x the best scorer operating in Europe, the best player of the World Cup 2014 and 2022, the best player of the Copa America 2021, 2x the best player according UEFA, FIFA Player of the Year 2009
Winners of the 2022 FIFA Player of the Year poll, for the seventh time under the name “The Best FIFA Football Awards” (2010 to 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or):
2022: 1. Lionel Messi, 2. Kylian Mbappe, 3. Karim Benzema
2021: 1. Robert Lewandowski, 2. Lionel Messi, 3. Mohamed Salah
2020: 1. Robert Lewandowski, 2. Cristiano Ronaldo, 3. Lionel Messi
2019: 1. Lionel Messi, 2. Virgil van Dijk, 3. Cristiano Ronaldo
2018: 1. Luka Modric, 2. Cristiano Ronaldo, 3. Mohamed Salah
2017: 1. Cristiano Ronaldo, 2. Lionel Messi, 3. Neymar
2016: 1. Cristiano Ronaldo, 2. Lionel Messi, 3. Antoine Griezmann
2015: 1. Lionel Messi, 2. Cristiano Ronaldo, 3. Neymar
2014: 1. Cristiano Ronaldo, 2. Lionel Messi, 3. Manuel Neuer
2013: 1. Cristiano Ronaldo, 2. Lionel Messi, 3. Franck Ribery
2012: 1. Lionel Messi, 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Andres Iniesta
2011: 1. Lionel Messi, 2. Cristiano Ronaldo, 3. Xavi Hernandez
2010: 1. Lionel Messi, 2. Andres Iniesta, 3. Xavi Hernandez
2009: 1. Lionel Messi, 2. Cristiano Ronaldo, 3. Xavi Hernandez
2008: 1. Cristiano Ronaldo, 2. Lionel Messi, 3. Fernando Torres
2007: 1. Kaka, 2. Lionel Messi, 3. Cristiano Ronaldo
2006: 1. Fabio Cannavaro, 2. Zinedine Zidane, 3. Ronaldinho
2005: 1. Ronaldinho, 2. Frank Lampard, 3. Samuel Eto’o
2004: 1. Ronaldinho, 2. Thierry Henry, 3. Andriy Shevchenko
2003: 1. Zinedine Zidane, 2. Thierry Henry, 3. Ronaldo
2002: 1. Ronaldo, 2. Oliver Kahn, 3. Zinedine Zidane
2001: 1. Luis Figo, 2. David Beckham, 3. Raúl
2000: 1. Zinedine Zidane, 2. Luis Figo, 3. Rivaldo
1999: 1. Rivaldo, 2. David Beckham, 3. Gabriel Batistuta
1998: 1. Zinedine Zidane, 2. Ronaldo, 3. Davor Šuker
1997: 1. Ronaldo, 2. Roberto Carlos, 3. Dennis Bergkamp and Zinedine Zidane
1996: 1. Ronaldo, 2. George Weah, 3. Alan Shearer
1995: 1st George Weah, 2nd Paolo Maldini, 3rd Jurgen Klinsmann
1994: 1. Romario, 2. Christo Stoičkov, 3. Roberto Baggio
1993: 1. Roberto Baggio, 2. Romário, 3. Dennis Bergkamp
1992: 1. Marco Van Basten, 2. Christo Stoičkov, 3. Thomas Hässler
1991: 1. Lothar Matthäus, 2. Jean-Pierre Papin, 3. Gary Lineker
Winners of the FIFA Player of the Year poll:
2022: Alexia Putellasová
2021: Alexia Putellasová
2020: Lucy Bronze
2019: Megan Rapinoe
2018: Marta
2017: Lieke Martensova
2016: Carli Lloyd
2015: Carli Lloyd
2014: Nadine Kesslerová
2013: Nadine Angererová
2012: Abby Wambach
2011: Homare Sawová
2010: Marta
2009: Marta
2008: Marta
2007: Marta
2006: Marta
2005: Birgit Prinzová
2004: Birgit Prinzová
2003: Birgit Prinzová
2002: Mia Hamm
2001: Mia Hamm
Ferenc Puskás award for the most beautiful goal of the year:
2022: Marcin Oleksy (Poland)
2021: Erik Lamela (Arg./Tottenham Hotspur)
2020: Son Heung-min (Korea Rep./Tottenham Hotspur)
2019: Dániel Zsóri (Maď./Debrecín)
2018: Mohamed Salah (Egypt/FC Liverpool)
2017: Olivier Giroud (Fr./FC Arsenal)
2016: Faiz bin Subri (Malaj./Penang FA)
2015: Wendell Lira (Braz./Goianesia)
2014: James Rodriguez (Col./Real Madrid)
2013: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden/Sweden)
2012: Miroslav STOCH (SR/Fenerbahce Istanbul)
2011: Neymar (Brazil/FC Santos)
2010: Hamit Altintop (Tur./Bayern Munich)
2009: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portug./Manchester United)
Photo gallery for the article
Number of photos: 8
- Author: © List
- PHOTO: Twitter/ESPN FC, DSports
- Source: TASR
