Messi, Scaloni, Martinez sweep FIFA The Best awards

Argentina captain Lionel Messi won a record-extending seventh FIFA The Best Men’s Player of the Year award, succeeding Robert Lewandowski as the winner of the award. The PSG star was joined by compatriots Emiliano Martinez and Lionel Scaloni in winning FIFA The Best awards at the gala.

Messi won the award for his displays for club and country in 2022, a year in which he won an elusive first FIFA World Cup title. The 35-year-old also became the oldest player in history to win the award, the 77th individual award of his career.

Barcelona Femeni forward and Asisat Oshoala’s teammate Alexia Putellas won the FIFA The Best Women’s Player of the Year for the second time in her career.

Argentina and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez won the FIFA The Best Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award after impressing for club and country. The towering goalkeeper helped Argentina win the World Cup in Qatar and won the tournament’s Golden Glove. In the women’s category, England and Manchester United Women goalkeeper Mary Earps won the Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni, who led La Albiceleste to the Copa America and FIFA World Cup in consecutive years, was named the FIFA The Best Men’s Manager of the Year. England Women’s manager Sarina Wiegman won the women’s Manager of the Year award after leading the Three Lionesses to Euro 2022 glory, their first major trophy.

Argentina fans won the FIFA The Best Fans of the Year for their passionate support as their country won the World Cup in Qatar.

Polish amputee Marcin Olesky won the Puskas Award for 2022 for an impressive acrobatic effort that he scored. Also, Cremonese midfielder Luka Lochoshvili won the FIFA Fair Play Award after saving the life of his opponent Georg Teigl in an Austrian Bundesliga match in 2022 when Wolfsberger AC faced Austria Wien.