FULL LIST: FIFA Best Award Winners

Lionel Messi and Alexia Putellas were crowned the Best FIFA Men’s and Women’s Players of 2022 at a glittering ceremony held in Paris on Monday night. Messi, who now plays for Paris Saint-Germain, beat stiff competition from his teammate Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema to win the coveted award for the first time since 2015.

Putellas, meanwhile, won the Women’s Player award for the second consecutive year, beating out Alex Morgan and Beth Mead to claim the honor. The Spanish midfielder was a key player for her club, Barcelona, as well as her national team during the year, scoring crucial goals and providing assists in several important matches.

In addition to the individual awards, the ceremony also recognized the best XI players in both the men’s and women’s categories. The men’s team included Thibaut Courtois in goal, with a backline of Achraf Hakimi, Joao Cancelo, and Virgil van Dijk. The midfield featured Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modric, and Casemiro, with Messi, Mbappe, Karim Benzema, and Erling Haaland completing the forward line.

The women’s team, on the other hand, featured Christiane Endler in goal, with Lucy Bronze, Maria Leon, Leah Williamson, and Wendy Renard making up the defense. The midfield included Alexia Putellas, Keira Walsh, and Lena Oberdorf, while the forward line featured Alex Morgan, Sam Kerr, and Beth Mead.

Argentina’s fans were also recognized with the FIFA Best Fans Award, while Luka Lochoshvili received the Fair Play Award. Lionel Scaloni was named the Best Men’s Coach for his work with the Argentine national team, while Sarina Wiegman won the Best Women’s Coach Award for her success with the Dutch national team.

The Puskas Award, which recognizes the best goal of the year, went to Marcin Oleksy for his strike in a match between Warta Poznan and Stal Rzeszow in November 2022. Finally, Emiliano Martinez was named the Best Men’s Goalkeeper for his performances for Aston Villa and the Argentine national team.

Overall, it was a night of celebration for some of the world’s top footballing talent, as they were recognized for their achievements over the course of the year. The winners will no doubt be hoping to build on their success in the coming season, as they continue to compete at the highest level of the game.