Lionel Messi Wins FIFA’s Best Player Award
Category: Sports News
Lionel Messi beat out Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe for FIFA’s best
men’s player award.
Messi was announced as the 2022 winner on Monday
at the Best FIFA Awards ceremony in Paris. FC Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas was
named the best women’s player for a second straight year.
READ: Lionel Messi’s Face ‘Could Be Put On A BANKNOTE’ In Argentina
“It’s
amazing,” Messi said at the ceremony, per the BBC. “It’s been a tremendous year,
and it’s an honor for me to be here and win this award. Without my teammates I
wouldn’t be here.
“I achieved the dream I had been hoping for for so
long,” Messi continued, referring to December’s World Cup title. “Very few
people can achieve that, and I have been lucky to do so.”
Messi
secured the honor after leading Argentina to a thrilling victory over France in
a World Cup final that went to penalty kicks. Messi scored two goals in the
final that secured a third World Cup crown for Argentina and the first of his
career. Mbappe countered with a hat trick, but like on Monday, had to settle for
second place.
READ: Messi Equals Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup Goal Record
Monday’s honor marked Messi’s second time securing the
award. He totaled 52 points in the voting tally while Mbappe finished second
with 44. The voting panel consisted of national team captains and coaches and
journalists. An online fan vote was also part of the equation.
Messi
was also honored in December with the Golden Ball award honoring the World Cup’s
best player. Mbappe earned the Golden Boot as the World Cup’s top goal scorer.
French Real Madrid star Karim Benzema finished third in FIFA best
player voting with 32 points. He missed the World Cup with a thigh injury. He
won the Ballon d’Or in October, marking just the second time in 14 years that
neither Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo won soccer’s most prestigious individual
honor.
READ: Lionel Messi Wins Ballon d’Or Award For Record-Breaking Seventh Time
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