Xtra Time Web Desk: As expected Lionel Messi was voted the FIFA Best Player Award 2022. Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup title in December, as well as the World Cup Golden Ball as the competition’s top player. Messi was a crucial member of PSG’s team when they won the French Ligue 1 championship. With Messi, Kylian Mbappe won the Ligue 1 championship in 2022. He also won the Ligue 1 top scorer award and the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot.
The talismanic Argentina captain won the FIFA Best Player Award for the second time in Paris. He was up against Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final and went on to earn the tournament’s Golden Boot, and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, who is currently the Ballon d’Or winner. With two awards, Messi equals the tally of Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski as the players with the most FIFA Best Award winners.
The best women’s player was Spain’s Alexia Putellas for a second straight year. Putellas won her award from Alex Morgan of the United States and Beth Mead, who led England to the European Championship title in 2022.
World Cup winning Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was voted FIFA men’s coach of the year. The women’s coach award went to Sarina Wiegman, who led the England to the title at the Women’s European Championship. The women’s goalkeeper award was given to Euro winner Mary Earps of England, and the best men’s goalkeeper was Argentina’s World Cup winner Emiliano Martínez.