Lionel Messi has won FIFA’s BEST men’s player in the world

Lionel Messi beat Kylian Mbappé for the second time on Monday to win FIFA’s best men’s player award for 2022.

Alexia Putellas of Spain was the best women’s player for the second year in a row.

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Messi won the best player vote over Mbappé and fellow Frenchman Karim Benzema after guiding Argentina to World Cup glory in an epic final against Mbappé’s France in Qatar. Messi became the first player, male or female, to win seven FIFA best player awards, breaking a tie with Marta, Brazil’s six-time best women’s player.

He won the World Cup on his fifth attempt, a record.

“It was an insane year for me,” Messi admitted. “After battling for so long, I was able to realize my [World Cup] ambition. And then it happened, and it was the most beautiful thing that had ever happened to me. Every player’s dream, but only a few can realize it, so I’m grateful to God for the opportunity.”

The three players were chosen from a global panel of national team captains and coaches, journalists from each of FIFA’s 211 member countries, and fans online.

Men’s Best voting results in full

Lionel Messi – 52 points

Kylian Mbappe – 44 points

Karim Benzema – 34 points

Luka Modric – 28 points

Erling Haaland – 24 points

Sadio Mane – 19 points

Julian Alvarez – 17 points

Achraf Hakimi – 15 points

Neymar – 13 points

Kevin de Bruyne – 10 points

Vinicius Jr – 10 points

Robert Lewandowski – 7 points

Jude Bellingham – 3 points

Mohamed Salah – 2 points

FIFA’S ‘THE BEST’ AWARDS 2023

Best men’s player: Lionel Messi (PSG and Argentina)

Best women’s player: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona and Spain)

Best men’s coach: Lionel Scaloni (Argentina)

Best women’s coach: Sarina Wiegman (England)

Best men’s goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa and Argentina)

Best women’s goalkeeper:  Mary Earps (Man Utd and England)

Puskas Award: Marcin Oleksy (WARTA POZNAN v Stal Rzeszow)

Fan award: Argentina fans

Fair Play Award: Luka Lochoshvili (Wolfsburg)

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