Latest

Football: Lionel Messi wins The Best Fifa men’s player award, Alexia Putellas clinches women’s title

Messi pipped PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe for the men’s award while Putellas beat Beth Mead and Alex Morgan for the women’s award.

Lionel Messi won The Best Fifa men’s player prize for 2022 on Monday on the back of his World Cup triumph with Argentina and Spain’s Alexia Putellas retained the women’s award at a ceremony in Paris.

Messi beat his Paris Saint-Germain teammate, and World Cup final rival, Kylian Mbappe to the men’s gong with Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema having been the other contender to claim the prize.

It is the second time that Messi has won the honour inaugurated by Fifa in 2016 after football’s world governing body split from Ballon d’Or organisers France Football.

The award, which is voted for by national team coaches and captains, journalists and also fans, recognises a year in which the former Barcelona star crowned his glorious career by leading Argentina to victory at the World Cup.

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

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

“This year was just mad for me, to be able to achieve my dream that I had fought so hard for. In the end I got it and it was the most beautiful thing that has happened in my career,” Messi said of his World Cup win as he collected his award.

“It is a dream for every footballer but something that very few can make come true,” added Messi, who was sat in the Paris theatre in between Mbappe and his wife Antonella Roccuzzo.

He took the prize just 24 hours after combining with Mbappe to lead PSG to a 3-0 win against Marseille in Ligue 1.

Putellas pips Mead and Morgan

The 35-year-old, a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, succeeds Polish star Robert Lewandowski on the FIFA honours list, while Putellas retained the women’s prize despite spending the second half of last year out injured.

The 29-year-old beat England’s European Championship-winning striker Beth Mead and United States star Alex Morgan to add the FIFA crown to the Ballon d’Or, which she has also won two years running.

Putellas is currently recovering from a serious knee injury suffered last July which ruled her out of the Euro in England with Spain.

Prior to that she had scored 11 goals on Barcelona’s run to the Champions League final, which they lost to Lyon.

Putellas has previously said she hopes 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 in Australia and New Zealand in July and August.

Argentina’s World Cup win in Qatar was also recognised as Lionel Scaloni claimed the men’s coach’s honour and Emiliano Martinez was named the best male goalkeeper.

Meanwhile, England’s European Championship victory helped their Dutch manager Sarina Wiegman win the prize for best women’s coach, while Mary Earps was named the women’s goalkeeper of the year.

Polish amputee player Marcin Oleksy took the Puskas Award for best goal, named after Hungary great Ferenc Puskas.

Related Posts

Shopify vs. The World: Why It’s the Best Platform for Online Entrepreneurs

In today’s digital age, launching an online business has become more accessible than ever. With numerous e-commerce platforms available, entrepreneurs are often faced with the daunting task of…

Revolutionizing Conversations: A Comprehensive ManyChat Review

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital communication, businesses are constantly seeking innovative ways to engage with their audience. One such groundbreaking tool that has been making waves in…

Alibaba Marketplace: A Comprehensive Review for Shoppers

The global e-commerce landscape has witnessed explosive growth in recent years, and Alibaba stands out as one of the major players in this digital revolution. Founded in 1999…

Agoda Review: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Popular Travel Booking Platform

In the dynamic landscape of online travel booking platforms, Agoda stands out as a prominent player, offering a diverse range of accommodations and travel-related services. This comprehensive analysis…

Booking.com Review 2024: Your Ultimate Guide to Seamless Travel Planning

In the fast-paced world of online travel planning, Booking.com stands out as a formidable force, catering to the diverse needs of millions of travelers globally. As we step…

Grammarly 2024 Review: Unveiling the Latest Features and Enhancements

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital communication, the importance of clear, concise, and error-free writing cannot be overstated. Whether you are a student, professional, or casual writer, having…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *