Lionel Messi headlined the list of big winners recognized as the top performers in world football over the last year at the 2023 FIFA Best Awards held in Paris on Monday, February 27.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward won the FIFA Men’s Player Award for his amazing exploits in 2022. It was the second “Best” award of his career after his previous triumph in 2019.
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#TheBest FIFA Menâs Player Award 2022 goes to Lionel Messi! đŚđˇ pic.twitter.com/HXEugVH1t9— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) February 27, 2023
The 35-year-old, who led the Albiceleste to victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he scored seven goals and had five assists along with winning the best player of the tournament award, was one of the four Argentine recipients who were honoured during the award ceremony.
Leo Messi wins his đđđđĄ individual award đą pic.twitter.com/7R27gtWuov
— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 27, 2023
The honour was Messi’s 77th individual award, and he was joined by compatriots Emiliano Martinez, who won The Best Men’s Goalkeeper Award, and world-cup-winning coach Lionel Scaloni, who was voted as the Best Men’s Manager, while Argentina’s fans earned The Best Fan Award for their amazing show of support in Qatar.
#TheBest FIFA Menâs Goalkeeper Award 2022 goes to @emimartinezz1! 𧤠pic.twitter.com/rqgeU9UwtK
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) February 27, 2023
Lionel Scaloni: #TheBest FIFA Menâs Coach 2022 đ pic.twitter.com/j6HyKopWnw
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) February 27, 2023
đŚđˇ #TheBest FIFA Fan Award 2022 goes to the Argentinian fans! pic.twitter.com/ClFdracE3q
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) February 27, 2023
In other categories, Barcelona Femeni gem Alexia Putellas won the Best Women’s Player award for her second honour in a row.
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@alexiaputellas has been crowned #TheBest FIFA Womenâs Player 2022! pic.twitter.com/Wtcgg8SUmO— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) February 27, 2023
Among the award recipients on the women’s side, England and Manchester United women’s Mary Earps won best goalkeeper, while England manager Sarina Wiegman captured the top coach honour after the Lionesses won their first major trophy at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022.
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đ´ó §ó ˘ó Ľó Žó §ó ż Mary Earps has been named #TheBest FIFA Women's Goalkeeper 2022! pic.twitter.com/tFa5b35jhj
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) February 27, 2023
đ¨ Sarina Wiegman has won #TheBest FIFA Women's Coach 2022! pic.twitter.com/s8mexAM3xq
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) February 27, 2023
The FIFA The Best Awards have been held annually since 2016, after the world governing body decided to stop endorsing the coveted Ballon d’Or awards presented by France Football.
Voting for the FIFA The Best men’s awards was based on performances between August 2021 and December 2022 to incorporate the FIFA men’s World Cup which concluded in December. The women’s awards voting was based on competitions taking place between August 2021 to July 2022, taking into account last summer’s Euro 2022 and Copa America 2022 tournaments.
Voting for the FIFA The Best Men’s Awards were based on performances between August 2021 and December 2022 to incorporate the FIFA Men’s World Cup, which concluded in December. The women’s award voting was based on competitions taking place between August 2021 and July 2022, taking into account last summer’s Euro 2022 and Copa America 2022 tournaments.
Full List of FIFA The Best Winners
- The Best men’s player: Lionel Messi
- The Best women’s player: Alexia Putellas
- The Best men’s goalkeeper: Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martinez
- The Best women’s goalkeeper: Mary Earps
- The Best men’s coach: Lionel Scaloni
- The Best women’s coach: Sarina Wiegman
- The Best Puskas award: Marcin Oleksy
- The Best Fan award: Argentina fans
- The Best Fair Play award: Luka Lochoshvili
- Special tribute: Pele
