The Best Award Gala, presented by FIFA in various categories, has come to an end Lionel Messi won his second award for best of the year. The result came as no surprise to anyone because although the Argentine shared the podium with real champions like Kylian Mbappé and Karim Benzema, the weight of what was achieved in Qatar left no one in doubt.
Aside from the fact that individual accolades are secondary to Lionel Messi, the reality is that with The Best being named Player of the Year 2022, “La Pulga” achieved an impressive number of 53 recognitions. In addition, the Argentine star, and for many the best footballer in history, caught up with Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski as the most winners of this FIFA-sponsored recognition, each with two awards.
Lionel Messi wins his second The Best award
Because FIFA decided in 2016 to part with the renowned magazine France Football, the highest international football association has bestowed the prestigious award on just four men’s footballers. There were no unprecedented winners in Paris on the night of February 27 as Lionel Messi almost undeniably made history again and was named the 2022 footballer of the year.
On this occasion, contrary to what has happened at other recent awards, Leo’s pick for Best of the Year is undisputed. And it’s also Benzema’s amazing campaign that won Champions League With Real Madrid and Mbappé having a fantastic season with his club and the French side, Rosario’s dream come true of winning the World Cup was more than enough to convince voters.
Messi won his second The Best award and together with him his teammate Emiliano Martínez and his Albiceleste team coach Lionel Scaloni took center stage in Paris. “Dibu” rose as the best goalkeeper in the world, Scaloni defeated Ancelotti and Guardiola as the best strategist and Leo added the number 53 to his endless collection of individual awards.
Winning the world championship erases everything that happened during the season
Choosing Lionel Messi as the best footballer is absolutely fair. However, many will be wondering what happens to what Karim Benzema, for example, achieved throughout last season. And it is that Real Madrid’s French attacker has been fundamental in the titles of the “merengue” team, he won his fifth Champions League, Ballon d’Or and if it had not been for an injury, maybe he would be been crucial for France in Qatar 2022.
To become the best in the world you need a bit of luck and this time the Argentine wasn’t lacking. It turns out that because it’s the year of a World Cup, FIFA is also quite atypical decided to consider the performances of the nominees up to the last month of the year. Messi was the best player in the World Cup and that erased his poor season at PSG and overshadowed stars like his own teammate who also played in the World Finals.
In the end, no one doubts even an iota the quality and merits of the Argentine “10” who has managed to remain at the top at 35, an age when many think about retirement. This time Leo, it is important to emphasize that was elected based on a tie vote consisting of the press, the 211 national coaches, just as many team captains and the fans.
The world champions were the big winners of the gala
As with Lionel Messi’s triumph in the battle for the prestigious Best Male Footballer award, no one was surprised The big winners of the evening were the best of the current world champion.
First of all, and despite some unnecessary takes on the pitch, There is no objection to Emiliano Martínez being recognized as the best goalkeeper. Even if it meant deposing a footballer as crucial as Thibaut Courtois. For his part, Lionel Scaloni’s victory against more than twice as experienced technicians as Carletto and Pep was not at all unexpected.
Beyond all of the above, what generates excitement is the inclusion of only one Argentine footballer in the men’s FIFA FIFPro, or the ideal elf in the world. For the Albiceleste nation there is only Leo, joined by Belgium’s Courtois and De Bruyne, Moroccan Hakimi, Dutchman Van Dijk, Portuguese Cancelo, Brazilian Casemiro, Croatian Modrić, Norway’s Haaland and France’s Benzema and Mbappé.
The other winners of the night in the Pleyel room
The 2023 edition of The Best award was a well-deserved tribute to the late, the greatest reference in world football, Pelé. In addition, prizes were also awarded in the female category, where Spain saw its sole representative win the grand prize. FC Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas made history as an athlete first player to win The Best award twice and that in two consecutive seasons.
The Dutchwoman was also honored in Paris Sarina Wiegman as best coach for her work with the England team. Britain’s Mary Earps, a Manchester United player, was named best goalkeeper. Also, the Puskás award for the best goal of the year went to Poland’s Marcin Oleksy, a player in the amputee league.
Meanwhile, the Fair Play award went to Georgia’s Luka Lochosvili for helping a rival who was dying on the pitch during a match. Finally, the other notable award of the evening was that of the best fans received from the Argentine fansrepresented by “El Tula”, a fan who has accompanied the three-time champion team since the 1974 World Cup.
