Argentina and Paris St-Germain forward Lionel Messi has been named men’s player of the year at the 2022 Best Fifa Awards.
The 35-year-old beat French forwards Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema to the prize.
Messi captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, and scored 27 goals in 49 games for club and country in 2021-22.
“It’s amazing. It’s been a tremendous year and it’s an honour for me to be here and win this award. Without my team-mates I wouldn’t be here, he said during his speech.
“I achieved the dream I had been hoping for for so long. Very few people can achieve that and I have been lucky to do so.”
At the ceremony in Paris, Lionel Scaloni,who led Argentina to their third World Cup title, was named men’s coach of the year.
Scaloni beat Pep Guardiola – who guided Manchester City to a sixth Premier League title – and Real Madrid’s Champions League-winning boss Carlo Ancelotti to the honour.
