Image: (APA/AFP/FRANCK FIFE)
The 35-year-old continued to build on his status as a record FIFA election winner. After his first World Cup triumph with Argentina, Messi was the logical winner. The French Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema were left behind. As in the previous year, the women’s award from the world association went to the Spaniard Alexia Putellas from FC Barcelona.
Messi grinned as he took the stage at the Salle Pleyel, not far from the Arc de Triomphe in the French capital. “It’s a great pleasure to be back here,” said the Paris Saint-Germain superstar. Messi last held the trophy in 2019. Even then he had surpassed his eternal adversary Cristiano Ronaldo, who has five awards. Now Messi has succeeded the recently twice honored Pole Robert Lewandowski.
“This year has been amazing. I was able to fulfill my biggest dream that I’ve been working toward for so long. It means so much to me,” said Messi of the World Cup. “It’s the nicest, the biggest, the greatest thing that’s happened to me in my career. It’s the nicest thing that can happen to a football player.” In club football, “La Pulga” had already won everything there was to win with FC Barcelona. He was also champion with PSG last year.
As expected, world champion coach Lionel Scaloni was named World Coach of the Year. The 44-year-old prevailed against Carlo Ancelotti from Champions League winners Real Madrid and Pep Guardiola from England champions Manchester City. On the day of the award ceremony, Scaloni also sealed his contract extension with the Argentine federation until 2026. “It’s the best thing when you can make the people in your country cheer,” he said of the World Cup triumph in Qatar in December.
Argentina’s men cleared big. The world goalkeeper title went to Emiliano Martinez. In addition to Messi, his PSG club colleague Mbappe and Real Madrid’s Benzema on the offensive, ex-Salzburg Erling Haaland also made it into the world selection. The team was elected exclusively by football professionals together with the players’ union FIFPro. Real Madrid goalie Thibaut Courtois was also taken into account there instead of Martinez. Benzema missed the World Cup injured after being awarded the “Ballon d’Or” in autumn.
For women, both awards went to the same player. Putellas won the FIFA election for the second time after winning the Ballon d’Or, although the 29-year-old midfielder was recently injured. For the second time after 2017, the Dutchwoman Sarina Wiegman, who had led England to the European Championship title, was chosen as the best coach. The best goalkeeper Mary Earps is also part of the successful English team.
At the beginning of the gala “The Best” Pele was posthumously honored with an honorary award. The Brazilian legend died at the end of last year at the age of 82. His widow accepted the silver cup from former world champion Ronaldo. “Pele is immortal,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Former world footballer Ronaldo and Pele’s former teammate Jairzinho paid tribute to the three-time world champion. Important stages in his unique career were shown in a video accompanied by statements by Pele.
The category winners at a glance:
- World Footballer of the Year: Lionel Messi (ARG)
- World Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (ESP)
- World Goalkeeper of the Year: Emiliano Martinez (ARG)
- World Goalkeeper of the Year: Mary Earps (ENG)
- World Coach of the Year: Lionel Scaloni (ARG)
- World Coach of the Year: Sarina Wiegman (NED)
- FIFA/FIFPro World Selection Men: Thibaut Courtois (BEL/Real Madrid) – Achraf Hakimi (MAR/Paris Saint-Germain), Virgil van Dijk (NED/Liverpool), Joao Cancelo (POR/Bayern Munich) – Kevin De Bruyne (BEL/Manchester City), Casemiro ( BRA/Manchester United), Luka Modric (CRO/Real Madrid) – Lionel Messi (ARG/Paris Saint-Germain), Karim Benzema (FRA/Real Madrid), Erling Haaland (NOR/Manchester City), Kylian Mbappe (FRA/Paris Saint Germain)
- Fair Play Award: Luka Lochoshvili (GEO – for saving lives as a WAC player)
- “The Best” Special Award (awarded posthumously): Pele (BRA)
Source: Nachrichten
