Messi new Best FIFA Men's Player of the year - Further builds on record

Argentina’s world champion Lionel Messi is the new The Best FIFA Men’s Player of the year winner. The Paris Saint-Germain forward took over the title from Robert Lewandowski. FIFA awarded the title to Messi as part of a gala on Monday evening. 

Messi was considered the big favorite to win the title since the vote has been concluded on February 3. In December, the 35-year-old guided his country to a World Cup title in Qatar, beating his PSG teammate Kylian Mbappé. Mbappé, alongside his French compatriot and Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, was also nominated. It is the seventh time that Messi has received the title as the world’s best player—more often than any other player in history. 

World football of the year history: Barcelona dominant

Although the title went to a PSG player, it is Messi’s former club Barcelona that has dominated the FIFA world’s best player award. Since 1991, the trophy has gone 12 times to players wearing the Barcelona shirt. Real Madrid have had nine winners. Inter, Juventus, and Milan are the only other clubs with multiple winners. 

The Best Goalkeeper award went to the Argentine Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa). Martínez finished ahead of Bono (Sevilla) and Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid). 

The Best FIFA Awards 2022 – This is how it works 

While L’Equipe’s Ballon d’Or award is voted for by only journalists, the Best FIFA awards are decided by media representatives, national team coaches, national team captains, and a fan award. All four groups get an equal 25% of the voting share. 

Real Madrid boycott? World Cup-winning coach Scaloni wins

There was a minor scandal ahead of the awards ceremony. According to a report by Marca and Sport, all members of Real Madrid, including head coach Carlo Ancelotti, will boycott the awards ceremony in Paris. Spanish papers reported that the club was unhappy about the way the awards were handled by FIFA. 

Benzema finished behind Messi in the best player of the year category. Ancelotti, who guided Real Madrid to a Champions League title, finished behind Argentina’s World Cup-winning coach Lionel Scaloni. Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola was also nominated. In December, the 44-year-old Scaloni became the youngest coach in history to win the World Cup. Real Madrid are unhappy that Vinicius Junior was not among the 26 players voted in the Best XI. 

Boycotts are nothing new. Cristiano Ronaldo, who was not nominated at all this year, would often sit out galas if he knew ahead of time that he would not win the main prize.