Messi edges Mbappé again for a top Fifa prize

SPORT

Argentina and Paris St-Germain forward Lionel Messi has been named men’s player of the year at the 2022 Best Fifa Football Awards.

The 35-year-old beat French forwards Kylian Mbappé and Karim Benzema to the prize. Messi captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar and scored 27 goals in 49 games for club and country in the 2021/22 season.

Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas was named women’s player of the year.

Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas was named Best Fifa Women’s Player of 2022. Photo: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images

Messi, who won the award for a second time, said: 

At the ceremony in Paris on Monday night, Lionel Scaloni, who led Argentina to their third World Cup title, was named men’s coach of the year.

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Scaloni beat Pep Guardiola, who guided Manchester City to a sixth Premier League title, and Real Madrid’s Champions League-winning boss Carlo Ancelotti to the honour.

England manager Sarina Wiegman was named women’s coach of the year after leading the Lionesses to European Championship glory on home soil last year, the team’s first major trophy.

Aston Villa and Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez was recognised as the best men’s goalkeeper, while England’s Mary Earps won the women’s award.

Martinez (30) helped his country win the World Cup, saving four penalties along the way, including in the shootout victory against France in the final.

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.

Recipient of the fair play award was Luka Lochoshvili, who held the tongue of his opponent, Georg Teigl, to save his life after the midfielder had fallen unconscious.

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A detailed view of the Fifa Fifpro Men's World 11 squad is shown on the screen during The Best Fifa Football Awards ceremony in Paris, France. Photo: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images

Fifa Fifpro Men’s World 11: Thibaut Courtois, Achraf Hakimi, Virgil van Dijk, Joao Cancelo, Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modric, Casemiro, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappé