Argentines clear up at FIFA Awards
Argentinian world champion Lionel Messi was named the new world footballer at a gala organized by the World Football Association in Paris on Monday evening. The offensive player from Paris Saint-Germain follows ex-Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski (34), who switched to FC Barcelona in the summer. FIFA honored Messi at The Best FIFA Football Awards 2022.
A jury’s vote ran until February 3. Messi was a big favorite among men, the 35-year-old having led his country to victory in the World Cup final in Qatar against France and his PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappé in December. In addition to the 24-year-old, Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema (35) was also nominated. Messi is now the undisputed record holder as a seven-time world footballer.
World footballer history: FC Barcelona dominates – Matthäus only German
In 1991 Lothar Matthäus, then under contract with Inter Milan, was the first and so far only German winner. You had to wait 29 years for a world footballer from a German club until, thanks to Lewandowski, there were even two honors in a row. Since 1991, the trophy has gone to FC Barcelona players 12 times and the world footballer has worn the jersey of Real Madrid 9 times. Inter, Juventus and Milan are also represented several times.
From Matthäus to Lewandowski: all FIFA World Players since 1991
Argentina’s world champion goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez (30, Aston Villa) won the goalkeeper category, defeating rivals Bono (31, Sevilla FC) and Thibaut Courtois (30, Real Madrid).
FIFA World Players 2022 – This is how the voting mode works
While only journalists vote for the Ballon d’Or organized by the French sports newspaper “L’Équipe”, the votes of four groups are weighted equally for the FIFA edition: the captains of the national teams and their coaches, a journalist from each FIFA Member country and fans decide who is the world footballer.
Real Madrid boycott? Argentina’s world champion coach Scaloni wins
There was a little fuss before the event: According to Spanish newspapers, all the stars of Real Madrid, including coach Carlo Ancelotti, wanted to stay away from the FIFA World Footballers Gala in Paris this Monday evening. As the newspapers “Marca” and “Sport” reported, the reason for the “boycott” should be great dissatisfaction with the award by the world association.
So Benzema Messi had to give way in the most important category of the best footballer of the year 2022. Ancelotti, who led the “Royal” to another Champions League triumph last year, ended up behind Argentina’s world champion coach Lionel Scaloni (extended his contract until 2026 on Monday) in the vote for coach of the year. Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola was also nominated. The 44-year-old Scaloni became the youngest World Cup champion in 44 years at the tournament in Qatar. According to reports, there is also displeasure in Madrid that attacker Vinicius Junior did not even appear in the final list of the best 26 players for the world eleven.
Cancellations of key protagonists are nothing new. Cristiano Ronaldo, who was not nominated this time, has been absent from galas several times in recent years when it became apparent that he would not be awarded the main prize.
Since 2010: All FIFA World Coaches of the Year
There was no discussion among the women. Spain’s Alexia Putellas from FC Barcelona won again despite missing the European Championship in the summer due to a cruciate ligament rupture. The German European Championship finalists were absent from the individual awards ceremony on stage, with the exception of Ann-Kathrin Berger from Chelsea FC, who had to give way to English European champion Mary Earps in the category of best goalkeeper. After all, Lena Oberdorf was appointed to the world eleven. An emotional high point was the posthumous tribute to Pelé, who died in December.
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