The best are Lionel Messi and Alexia Putellas, who have won for the second time The Best Award, the award given by FIFA to point out the highest annual references in world football through a vote in which the votes of the selectors, Captains of 211 countries, those of a journalist for each of these nations, and finally all those people who bothered To on a web space to cast their vote. Each of these four groups contributed 25% of the total votes.
It was the seventh edition of the awards after they divorced in 2016 after six years of marriage with France Football magazine’s Ballon d’Or. But on this occasion, the exceptional nature of a Winter World Cup meant that returns were weighted from August 2021 to the end of the event in Qatar last December. This explains the triumph of Lionel Messi, who had already won in 2019 and in the still short list of awards joins Cristiano Ronaldo, winner of the first two editions, and Robert Lewandowski, who made it in the last two.
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The Paris Saint-Germain soccer player and world champion with the Argentina team received congratulations from Mbappé, whom he outnumbered and who was the first to congratulate him as he was seated next to him in the Paris Auditorium where the event took place. Messi didn’t hide that everything has to do with what happened at the World Cup. “I got my dream after insisting for so long. It’s the most beautiful thing that has happened to me in my career, it will stay with me forever.
Leo Messi with the best player award in the presence of Gianni Infantino SARAH MEYSSONNIER (Portal)
Benzema, who received the Ballon d’Or for the 21-22 season last October, completed the shortlist of finalists. Messi wasn’t even among the thirty nominees for France Football back then. The Real Madrid striker did not travel to attend the awards ceremony. Courtois and Modric, who, like the French nine, were the representatives of the current continental champions in the best eleven of the year, were also absent. Emilio Butragueño, Director of Institutional Relations, held the representation of the white club in the French capital, which claimed the tightness of the calendar meant that none of its players walked the green carpet spread by FIFA.
In the women’s division, Alexia Putellas became the first footballer to repeat victory after her victory in the previous edition. For the women, the temporary period considered for their evaluation ended on July 31, just after the European Cup that the Barcelona midfielder missed due to an injury from which she is still recovering. But neither this absence nor the defeat with her team in the Champions League final against Olympique de Lyon displace her from the world throne. She defeated England’s Beth Mead, Arsenal striker who led her country to victory in the Championship which Putellas did not participate in, and America’s Alex Morgan. “All people who have a dream can see that if they work, they can achieve it. And the most important thing is to enjoy the trip,” stressed the Catalan midfielder.
The “eternal” Pelé in memory
Lionel Scaloni, hours after knowing his extension with the Argentine team until the 2026 World Cup, received the Best Coach award ahead of Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola, who were absent in Paris and still have not achieved an award that Ranieri already has, Zidane. Deschamps, Tuchel and twice Klopp. “There is nothing better than seeing your people, your country excited, victory is for them,” Scaloni said.
The epic on the Persian Gulf coast also explains the recognition of Dibu Martínez as the best goalkeeper not on display with Aston Villa in the big shop windows, over Courtois, the hero of Real Madrid’s fourteenth Orejona, and Sevilla player Bono, who is also the World Cup with Morocco is outstanding. Martínez moved with his words: “They always ask me about my idols. For me, it was my mother cleaning buildings for seven or eight hours and watching my father (a worker at the port of Mar del Plata) work.” Completing the Argentinian flake were La Doce, who were selected as the most outstanding fans . “We’re the best,” said El Tula, an 82-year-old fan who has attended thirteen World Cups and banged his bass drum on stage to celebrate the award.
The best men’s eleven with a drawing signed by Johan Cruyff consists of Courtois; the defenders Achraf, Van Dijk, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Casemiro, Modric as midfielders; and Messi, Benzema, Haaland and Mbappé for attack. A total of three footballers playing in LaLiga, three in the Ligue 1 Gala, one in the Bundesliga recently arrived from the Premier and four who are still in England. “We would have the ball all the time, so we wouldn’t have to defend that much,” said Casemiro. Gavi and Pedri were the only two Spaniards nominated from a list of 26 finalist footballers.
In the women’s category, Manchester United’s Mary Earps was named best understick. Sarina Wiegman, the Dutchwoman who coaches England and led to the European title, celebrated her third win in seven years. Two Spaniards, Mapi León and Alexia Putellas, both from Barcelona, featured in the top women’s eleven. The team consists of Endler at gate; Bronze, Mapi León, Williamson, Renard at full-back; Alexia Putellas, Walsh and Oberdorf for midfield and Morgan, Kerr and Mead in attack.
The Puskas award for best goal went to Poland’s Marcin Oleksy, a footballer who lost his left leg and exposed himself while leaning on his crutches with a precise scissor shot in a game with his side in a league of amputees last November . the Warta poses. It all happened at a gala that honored Pelé with a special award that Ronaldo presented to his widow. “He’s football. It’s forever,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
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