Lionel Messi again beat his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe to win the 2022 FIFA World Player of the Year after beating him on December 18 to lead Argentina to its first world title since 1986.

The choice fell on Messi, who won the award on Monday in Paris in recognition of his key role in leading Argentina to its third world title.

The nominations were in favor of Messi, who won the title of “best” in 2019 in this award, which separated from the Golden Ball awarded by “France Football” magazine and returned to the FIFA award in 2016.

Messi, a record seven-time Golden Ball winner, was earlier on stage at the FIFA ceremony, but he was content to see Poland’s Robert Lewandowski win the title twice, while Argentina finished third. Runner-up against his Portugal rival Cristiano Ronaldo in 2020 and Egyptian Mohamed Salah in 2021.

However, the 35-year-old’s crowning of the world title strengthened his chances of becoming the “best” in the race, whose champion is decided by the votes of the coaches and captains of all national teams and a journalist from each country. In addition to fans.

Like Messi, Mbappe produced a spectacular World Finals, top scorer against his Argentine counterpart with eight straight goals, including a hat-trick in the final, making him only the second player to score a “hat-trick” in England’s title match. Jeff Hurst in 1966.

But the penalty shootout failed and the player, who celebrated his 24th birthday two days after the final, was prevented from following in the footsteps of the 17-year-olds who were crowned champions in 1958 and 1962. 21 years old, though he finished the next edition with an injury.

‘It’s been a crazy year’

The other Frenchman, Karim Benzema, was the third team in contention for the title last year after winning the Ballon d’Or for the first time in his career and the Champions League for the fifth time.

However, injury has curtailed the Spanish Real Madrid star’s chances of taking part in the Qatar World Cup, with the 35-year-old’s 44 goals in 46 appearances for Real last season not being enough to compete. Messi for the prestigious award.

Commenting on winning the award, the Argentine said: “It’s great. I’m happy to be on the same list as Benzema and Kylian who have had a great year. This award is an honour.”

He continued, “It’s been a crazy year and I’ve succeeded in achieving my dream. It’s always the best to achieve. It’s every player’s dream.”

A huge controversy

For his millions of fans, the Argentine star’s claim to being the greatest footballer in history ended.

The small “blee” record has always been blamed for not winning the World Cup, and thus the ban creates great controversy when the clock refers to football legends, preventing him from writing his name in front of his late compatriot Diego Armando. Maradona and Brazilian legend Pele.

However, the Argentine’s coronation at the Lusail Stadium in the Qatari capital Doha finally put an end to the controversy and filled the remaining gap in his resume after a magical evening that lasted 120 crazy minutes.

In his last appearance at the World Cup finals, Messi broke several records, including his 26th appearance at the World Cup, while he scored a hat-trick for his team in a thrilling 3-3 draw. Penalty shoot-out scene.

Former England striker Gary Lineker wrote on Twitter that Messi was “a gift from the football gods”, while fellow international defender Declan Rice said: “We will never see a player like Messi again”.

Putiyas are best for women

In the women’s category, Spain’s Alexia Botillas defeated England’s Beth Mead and America’s Alexis Morgan to retain the title.

Botillas was the driving force behind his team Barcelona and helped lead it to the Champions League final, where they lost 1–3 to Lyon of France, and went on to win all thirty matches in the league.

The Spaniard won the Ballon d’Or in 2021 and 2022, becoming the first player to win the “Best” title two years in a row.

Bonus scaloni and martinis too

And among coaches, Lionel Scaloni, who led Argentina to the World Cup, beat Italy’s Carlo Ancelotti, the Real Madrid coach who won the European Champions League and the Spanish League, and Spain’s Pep Guardiola. English Premier League title with Manchester City.

Scaloni’s honor comes hours after he announced that he will extend his contract with the Argentina national team until the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

After receiving the award, the 44-year-old said, “There is nothing more beautiful than seeing your people happy,” adding, “Thank you to the players. Those 26 people who took us to glory. Without them I could not have achieved anything. ,” implying that the players played for the people. Argentina and “this victory is for them, for my family, my wife and my children who are here, my mother, father and brothers… for our whole country.”

In the women’s category, the title went ahead of Dutch player Sarina Wechmann, who will be crowned European champion with the England national team in 2022, French Sonia Bombaster, who won the European Champions League with Lyon, and Swedish coach Pia Sundage of Brazil.

Polish footballer Marcin Oleksy won the Puskas Award for best goal for his team Varda Poznań against Stal Giszow in November with his stunning scissors kick.

Argentina’s best goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez overtook Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois and Morocco’s Yassin Bono, who led his country to the feat of becoming the first representative of Africa and the Arabs. Cup.