Lionel Messi capped off an unforgettable year on Monday when he was named the best men’s player of 2022 at The Best FIFA Football Awards in Paris. The ceremony was a toast to the Argentine’s achievements over the past few months, as he carried his country past France in the World Cup Final and lifted the iconic trophy for the first time in his career.
The award highlights just how well Messi performed over the course of the tournament where he scored seven goals, including two in the final, and picked up three assists. These exploits earned him the Golden Ball, the recognition given to the best player throughout the tournament.
This is the second time that Messi has received the Best FIFA Men’s Player award, the last having been in 2019. The runners up for this year included France star Kylian Mbappe, who scored eight goals at the World Cup and picked up the Golden Boot award, as well as Karim Benzema.
Elsewhere in soccer, Nike is looking to add Erling Haaland to its impressive roster of top athletes.
