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)

Lionel Messi, who led Argentina to its third FIFA World Cup glory in December, yesterday, in Paris regained FIFA’s Best Footballer Award. He beat his Paris St. Germain teammate, Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid star, Karim Benzema, to the crown.

The Best FIFA Women’s Player award went to Alexis Putellas of Barcelona and Spain, who retained the crown she won in 2021. She defeated Arsenal’s Beth Mead (England) and Alex Morgan of San Diego Waves, the United States

The 35-year-old Messi enjoyed a stellar 2022, as he won the Ligue 1 title with PSG, making valuable contributions along the way.

Messi’s brightest stage in 2022 was at the World Cup, hosted by Qatar, in December when he led Argentina to the victory.

The former Barcelona star finished the tournament with the Golden Ball on his way to realising the only goal he was yet to accomplish in his trophy-laden career.

The 35-year-old has been in the news a great deal of late due to his uncertain future in Paris. Messi’s contract with PSG expires at the end of the season and while it appeared that he could prolong his stay at one point, it does not seem that way any longer.

Barcelona, for their part, are keen on re-signing Messi and it remains to be seen how that pursuit fares over the coming months.

As it was at the World Cup final, Messi faced his Paris St. Germain teammate, Mbappe, who was the star performer for defending champions, France, scoring a rare hat trick, the first in 56 years.

The ceremony in Paris gave Messi his second FIFA