The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) has announced the 2022 World Football Excellence Awards. Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Spain’s Alexia Butelas were selected as the best player for the 2nd year in a row.
Player of the Year: Messi won the award for the 7th time, beating France’s Guillain-Babe and Karim Benzema in this category. It is noteworthy that Argentina, led by Messi, became the champion in last year’s World Cup football tournament. Messi has won the trophy for Argentina in his 5th attempt.
Best Player: Spain’s Alexia Butelas is the best player in this category, ahead of America’s Alex Morgan and England’s Beth Mead. Last year, Budelas became the first player to play 100 games for the national team. He has not participated in competitions since last November due to a knee injury.
In this award ceremony held on Monday night in Paris, Poland’s Marcin Alexi as the best disabled player, Lionel Scaloni of Argentina as the best coach of the men’s team, Sarina Weyman of England as the best coach of the women’s team, Emiliano Martinez of Argentina as the best women’s goalkeeper, and Mary Arps of England as the best women’s goalkeeper.
The Argentinian fans were awarded the Best Fan Award and the Most Valuable Player Award went to Georgian player Luka Lososhvili for saving the life of an injured opponent.
The winners of the award are selected based on the votes cast by the coaches, captains, sports journalists and fans of the national teams.
The best eleven in the world
will play
Goalkeeper – Thibaut Courtois (Belgium).
Defenders – Jao Cancelo (Portugal), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), Virgil van Zyck (Netherlands).
Midfields – Casemiro (Brazil), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium), Luka Mordic (Croatia).
Forwards – Karim Benzema (France), Erling Holland (Norway), Kylian Papé (France), Lionel Messi (Argentina).
* Messi has made a new record by placing in this list for the 16th time. Previously, he and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo held the record for the most, 15 times.
The woman
Goalkeeper – Christian Endall (Chile).
Defenders – Lucy Bruns (England), Mabie Lyon (Spain), Wendy Renaud (France), Leah Williamson (England).
Midfielders – Lena Abdorf (Germany), Alexia Butelas (Spain), Keira Walsh (England).
Forwards – Sam Coe (Australia), Alex Morgan (USA), Beth Mead (England).