The FIFA award for best male player was given to Lionel Messi over his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe. At the Best FIFA Awards ceremony held in Paris on Monday, Messi was announced as the winner for 2022. The best women’s player award was awarded for a second consecutive year to Alexia Putellas of FC Barcelona.
“It’s amazing,” Messi said at the ceremony, according to the BBC. The past year has been extremely rewarding, and I am honored to receive this award. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my teammates. Messi continued, “I achieved the dream I had been hoping for for so long,” referring to his World Cup victory in December. “Very few people can achieve that, and I have been lucky to do so.”
In a penalty kick-driven World Cup final, Messi led Argentina to a thrilling victory over France. Argentina won their third World Cup title and first of Messi’s career with two goals in the final. In response, Mbappe scored a hat trick, but as on Monday, had to settle for second place. This is Messi’s second time receiving the award. He received 52 points in the voting tally, while Mbappe received 44 points.
National team captains, coaches, and journalists served on the voting panel. As part of the process, online fan votes were also taken into account. The Golden Ball award was also presented to Messi in December in recognition of his performance at the World Cup. As the leading goal scorer at the World Cup, Mbappe earned the Golden Boot.