‘Soccer hero’ Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain), who led Argentina to win the 2022 Qatar World Cup, stood tall as the world’s best football player.
On the 27th (local time), the International Football Federation (FIFA) named Messi as the winner of the male best player category at the ‘2022 The Best FIFA Football Awards’ ceremony held in Paris, France.
FIFA, which established the Player of the Year award in 1991, merged with Ballon d’Or, which is selected by French football magazine France Football, in 2010 to award the award under the name of ‘FIFA Ballon d’Or’. awards ceremony is held.
Messi, who scored 7 goals and 3 assists in the World Cup in Qatar, which ended last December, helped Argentina win their first championship in 36 years and received the Golden Ball, the best player award, and beat the two French strikers who were final competitors.
Messi’s club teammate Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) failed to win the World Cup for the second time in a row after losing to Argentina on penalties in the final, but became the top scorer with eight goals and was nominated for the final list.
Karim Benzema also had a splendid year, such as leading Real Madrid to the championship by ranking first in the Spanish Primera Liga and UEFA Champions League in the 2021-2022 season, and winning the Ballon d’Or last October, but Messi’s stronghold couldn’t get over
This award determines the winners by reflecting the results of FIFA member team coaches, captains, media, and fan voting.
Messi’s award is the first in four years since 2019.
In 2020 and 2021, Roberto Lewandowski (Poland, FC Barcelona) won the FIFA Male Player of the Year award consecutively.
The best female player award went to Alexia Putellas (Spain), the leader of FC Barcelona.
Beth Mead (Arsenal WFC), who led England to win the European Women’s Football Championship (Women’s Euro 2022), and Putyas, who beat Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave) of the United States, became the first female player to win the award for two consecutive years.
Putyas could not play properly at Women’s Euro 2022 due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, but was recognized for his performance in his team.
Last season, he led the league championship with 18 goals and 16 assists in 26 games, and also led the team to the final of the UEFA Champions League. In this competition, she exploded 11 goals and also became the top scorer.
The men’s and women’s team coach of the year awards were awarded to Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni and England coach Sarina Bigman, who led the World Cup and Women’s Euro championships, respectively.
In Argentina, even goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa) was selected as the best goalkeeper for men, showing off his might as a World Cup champion. 스포츠토토
Mary Earps (Manchester United), who kept England’s goal, was also selected as the best goalkeeper for women.
The goal of the year, the Pushka Award, was awarded to Marcin Oleksi (Warta Poznan), who plays in Poland’s ‘Amputee Football League’, with a fantastic right-footed scissor kick in November last year.