Argentina and PSG striker Lionel Messi has been named Player of the Year at the FIFA Awards 2022. Messi, 35, played a key role in Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, scoring 27 goals in 49 games for his club and country during the 2021/22 season.
Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas has been named Player of the Year.
Lionel Messi , who led Argentina to their third world title, was named Coach of the Year at the awards ceremony in Paris.Messi won the award against Pep Guardiola, who guided Manchester City to their sixth Premier League title, and Carlo Ancelotti, who guided Real Madrid to Champions League victory. The Women’s Coach of the Year award went to England coach Sarina Wiegman, who led the Lions to their first major trophy, the European Championship, on home soil last year.
Aston Villa and Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez was named the men’s best goalkeeper. The 30-year-old played a key role in his country’s World Cup title, saving four penalties along the way, including a penalty against France in the final.
The FIFA Puskas Award for the best goal in world football went to Marcin Oleksy, an amputee from the Polish team Warta Poznań.
Oleksy’s superb shot against Stal Rzeszów, who found himself on crutches, was a head volley that went into the net.