February 28 – Lionel Messi was named FIFA player of the year once again on Monday as Argentina scooped all the major men’s awards after winning a memorable World Cup final last December.
Messi edged out Kylian Mbappé while the best women’s player award went to Spain’s Alexia Putellas for a second straight year.
After steering Argentina to World Cup glory in an epic final against Mbappé’s France last year in Qatar, Messi won vote against Mbappé and Karim Benzema as he secured the FIFA prize for the seventh time in 14 years.
“It was a crazy year for me,” Messi said. “I could fulfil my (World Cup) dream after fighting for it for so long. And in the end it happened, and it was the most beautiful thing of my career. It’s the dream of every player, but very few can achieve it, so I’m thankful to God for being able to do it.”
The three players made the final shortlist in voting by a global panel of national team captains and coaches, selected journalists in each of FIFA’s 211 member countries, plus fans online.
Mbappé was seeking his first best player award from FIFA but picked up the Golden Boot as top scorer. In the best player ballot, Messi got 52 points, Mbappé 44, and Benzema 34.
Mbappé, 11 years younger than Messi at 24 and considered his heir apparent on the world stage, had made the three-man shortlist for the first time.
Real Madrid star Benzema won the far more prestigious Ballon d’Or in October ahead of the World Cup. The France forward missed the tournament because of injury.
Barcelona playmaker Putellas won her award from Alex Morgan of the United States and Beth Mead, who led England to the European Championship title in 2022.
Putellas made the top three again despite being injured days before the Euros and missing the tournament. She scored 34 goals across all competitions last season.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was voted FIFA men’s coach of the year after leading his team to the World Cup title in December while the women’s coach award went to Sarina Wiegman, who led the England to their first ever triumph at the Euros.
Polish amputee Marcin Oleksy won the Puskas prize for best goal of the year for a spectacular acrobatic volley with Warta Poznan against Stal Rzeszow.
The event in Paris was marked by tributes to Pelé, who died late last year at age 82 following a battle with colon cancer. Pelé’s wife, Marcia Aoki, received a trophy honouring the great man from former Brazil striker Ronaldo.
Full list of The Best FIFA Football Awards 2022:
- The Best FIFA Women’s Player: Alexia Putellas (Spain/FC Barcelona Femení)
- The Best FIFA Men’s Player: Lionel Messi (Argentina/Paris Saint-Germain FC)
- The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper: Mary Earps (England/Manchester United WFC)
- The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martínez (Argentina/Aston Villa FC)
- The Best FIFA Women’s Coach: Sarina Wiegman (England Women’s National Team)
- The Best FIFA Men’s Coach: Lionel Scaloni (Argentina Men’s National Team)
- The FIFA Puskás Award: Marcin Oleksy (Poland/Warta Poznań)
- The FIFA Fair Play Award: Luka Lochoshvili (Georgia/Wolfsberger AC/U.S. Cremonese)
- The FIFA Fan Award: Argentinian Fans
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