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Lionel Messi awarded FIFA Men’s Player of the Year for 2022.
The Best FIFA Men’s Player award for 2022 has been won by Lionel Messi, who edged out competitors Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe for the title.
Late last year, the Argentina great delivered a series of career-defining performances at the World Cup in Qatar, aiding the South Americans in capturing the title for the first time since 1986.
In addition to becoming the first player to score in every round of the World Cup and holding the record for most appearances with 26 games, Messi earned his second Golden Ball in Qatar.
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Receiving the award, he said: “Wow, it’s amazing. It’s been a tremendous year and it’s an honour for me to be here tonight and win this award.
“Without my team-mates I wouldn’t be here. I achieved the dream I had been hoping for for so long. Very few people can achieve that and I have been lucky to do so.”
The 35-year-old has also shown more form with club side Paris Saint-Germain after an initially tricky departure from Barcelona. PSG won Ligue 1 in 2021/22 and are well set again to do so this season, though work is needed in the Champions League having lost the first leg 1-0 to Bayern Munich.
It’s another individual award for Messi’s bulging collection. He previously won the award in 2019 and has seven Ballon d’Or trophies.
🏆 𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜 🏆
#TheBest FIFA Men’s Player Award 2022 goes to Lionel Messi! 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/HXEugVH1t9— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) February 27, 2023