India Captain Sunil Chhetri's First Choice At FIFA Awards Was This Player. It's Not Lionel Messi

28.02.2023 - 18:31 sports.ndtv.com

Lionel Messi added another feather to his crown by winning The Best FIFA men's player prize for 2022 on Monday on the back of his World Cup triumph with Argentina.

Messi beat his Paris Saint-Germain teammate, and World Cup final rival, Kylian Mbappe to the men's gong with Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema having been the other contender to claim the prize.

It is the second time that Messi has won the honour inaugurated by FIFA in 2016 after football's world governing body split from Ballon d'Or organisers France Football.

The award, which is voted for by national team coaches and captains, journalists and also fans, recognises a year in which the former Barcelona star crowned his glorious career by leading Argentina to victory at the World Cup.

player Lionel Messi Karim Benzema Kylian Mbappe Sunil Chhetri France Argentina India

Talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri "may be playing the last season" of his illustrious career, feels Indian football team head coach Igor Stimac, who is hoping that his star player would be saving his best for the last in the coming months. India's next big assignment is the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar from January 12 to February 10 next year. The 38-year-old Chhetri is set to play in his third continental showpiece, the most by an Indian, after playing a pivotal role in the qualification tournament here last year.

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Star striker Sunil Chhetri struck a late goal as a substitute to help Bengaluru FC eke out a 1-0 win over Mumbai City FC in the first leg of the Indian Super League (ISL) semi-final in Mumbai on Tuesday. Chhetri's 78th minute goal gave the Blues a vital advantage ahead of the second leg in Bengaluru on Sunday. As they have all season, the Islanders were once again the team that dominated possession and created more scoring chances than their opponents. In the second minute, Greg Stewart set the pace down the right with a low cross back into the box for Bipin Singh, whose shot was blocked by Prabir Das. The defender was called into action again just ten minutes later to deny Lalengmawia Ralte and Jorge Diaz after a one-two.

Again, Messi is world’s best as Argentina clears FIFA Awards

Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi (L) receives from FIFA President Gianni Infantino the Best FIFA Mens Player award during the Best FIFA Football Awards 2022 ceremony in Paris on February 27, 2023. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Attacked By Real Madrid Fans, David Alaba Says Lionel Messi Vote Was Team Decision

David Alaba defended himself on Tuesday as Real Madrid fans turned on him after FIFA listed the Austrian as voting for Lionel Messi over Karim Benzema as player of the year. Alaba, Benzema's team-mate at Real, faced abuse from his club's fans for putting former Barcelona star Messi first in the FIFA Best awards announced Monday. "The Austrian national team vote for this award as a team, not me alone. Everyone in the team council is able to vote and that's how it's decided," Austria captain Alaba tweeted.