Image: Tullio Puglia – FIFA
The 2022 Best Fifa Awards have recognized Lionel Messi of Argentina and Paris St. Germain as the men’s player of the year.
The 35-year-old won the award ahead of French attackers Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe.
Messi scored 27 goals in 49 games for club and country in 2021–2022 as he led Argentina to World Cup victory in Qatar.
Women’s player of the year was awarded to Alexia Putellas of Barcelona.
Messi, who won the award for a second time, said: “It’s amazing. It’s been a tremendous year and it’s an honour for me to be here and win this award. Without my team-mates I wouldn’t be here.
“I achieved the dream I had been hoping for for so long. Very few people can achieve that and I have been lucky to do so.”
Lionel Scaloni, who led Argentina to their third World Cup victory, was voted men’s coach of the year at the ceremony in Paris.
Scaloni won the award ahead of Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid and Pep Guardiola of Manchester City, who led his team to the Champions League trophy and a sixth consecutive Premier League triumph.
Sarina Wiegman, the manager of England, won the title of women’s coach of the year after guiding the Lionesses to their first major victory at home in the European Championship last year.
Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa and Argentina received the title for best male goalkeeper, and Mary Earps of England took home the prize for best female goalkeeper.
Martinez, 30, contributed to his nation’s victory in the World Cup by saving four penalties along the way, including one in the final shootout victory over France.
Collecting his award, Martinez said: “They always ask me who my idols are or who I watched when I was a kid… watching my mum clean buildings for eight or nine hours and watching my dad work. They are my idols.”
Earps, who plays for Manchester United in the Women’s Super League, started all six of England’s games at Euro 2022 as they won the competition.
She said: “For anyone who has been in a dark place, just know there is light at the end of the tunnel, so keep going. You can achieve anything that you set your mind to.”