FIFA, the governing world football body has conducted its ‘The Best’ ceremony in Paris, France where football star Lionel Messi emerged THE BEST FIFA Men’s Player of the Year.
This is not to be confused with the Ballon d’Or award by the French publication France Football since 1956 of which FIFA disengaged from since Gianni Infantino’s ascendency to power in 2016.
‘The Best’ awards recognises the campaign’s best men’s player, best women’s player, men’s goalkeeper, men’s and women’s coaches and more.
On the back of powering the Argentine national team to lift the World Cup since 1986, at the Nov. 20, 2022 mundial in Qatar, few if any had qualms about Messi’s triumph.
Messi had last picked the trophy in 2019, receiving a standing ovation.
It was a clean sweep for Argentina’s La Albiceleste as Lionel Scaloni emerged The Best FIFA Men’s Coach 2022. The BEST FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper was the controversial Emiliano Martinez while The Best FIFA Fan Award 2022 went to the Argentinian fans.
Other winners of the Best FIFA Football Awards 2022:
The BEST FIFA Women’s POTY: Alexia Putellas
Mary Earps — Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year
Sarina Wiegman — Women’s coach of the Year
The 2022 FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World XI:
Thibaut Courtois, Achraf Hakimi, Virgil van Dijk, Joao Cancelo, Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modric, Casemiro, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe.
The FIFPRO Women’s World XI:
Christiane Endler, Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, Wendie Renard, Mapi León, Keira Walsh, Alexia Putellas, Lena Oberdorf, Alex Morgan, Beth Mead and Sam Kerr.
