Lionel Messi beats Embappé, wins ‘Best FIFA Player of 2022’

Argentina’s Lionel Messi won the Best FIFA Men’s Player award for 2022 on Tuesday. Messi beat his World Cup final rival Kylian Mbappe to the men’s gong. Mbappé, at 24, 11 years younger than Messi and considered Messi’s successor on the world stage, made the three-man shortlist for the first time.

In the FIFA award voting, Messi had 52 points, Mbappe had 44 and Benzema had 34 points.

Robert Lewandowski won the FIFA award the last two years, and Cristiano Ronaldo was left out of the 14-player list for the award for the first time this year.

This is the second time Messi has won the honor, inaugurated by FIFA in 2016.

Messi scored twice in an epic final in Doha as Argentina beat France on penalties despite scoring a hat-trick for Les Bleus in a 3-3 draw.

Earlier, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was named the FIFA Men’s Coach of the Year after leading his team to the World Cup title in December.

The Women’s Coach of the Year award went to Sarina Wigman, who led England to the title at the Women’s European Championship.

He also claimed the Golden Ball for the best player in the tournament, although Mbappé was the top scorer with eight goals, one more than Messi.

After winning the award, Messi said, “This year was crazy for me, to be able to achieve my dream that I fought so hard for. I finally got it and it was the most beautiful thing in my career.” ” ,

“It’s a dream for every footballer, but something that very few can fulfill,” said Messi, sitting between Mbappe and his wife, Antonella Roccuzzo, at a theater in Paris.

Separately, Spain’s Alexia Puteles retained the women’s award at a ceremony in Paris.

Putelas previously said she hoped to return from injury in time to play again this season, but it remains to be seen whether she will feature for Spain at the World Cup. Australia And new zealand in July and August.

Barcelona playmaker Putelas returned to the top three despite being ruled out of the tournament with injury just days before the Euros. He scored 34 goals in all competitions last season.

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