On Monday, Paris Saint-Germain teammates Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé will face off for The Best FIFA Men’s Player prize for 2022, alongside Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema. The ceremony will take place in Paris, where Messi is considered the favorite to secure another individual accolade after leading Argentina to victory over Mbappé’s France in the dramatic World Cup final in Qatar. Messi, a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, previously claimed the FIFA award in 2019, which was established in 2016 following FIFA’s separation from Ballon d’Or organizers France Football. In the past two years, Messi has reached the podium while Robert Lewandowski won the title, but his World Cup triumph in 2022 stands as the defining achievement of his career.
The winner of The Best FIFA Men’s Player award is determined by a jury that includes the coach and captain of every men’s national team, as well as one journalist from each country. Fans also have the opportunity to vote. In the World Cup final, Mbappé made history by becoming the first player to score a hat-trick since Geoff Hurst in 1966, helping France secure a 3-3 draw after extra time, despite Messi scoring twice. Ultimately, France lost in the shootout. At just 24 years old, Mbappé finished the tournament as the top scorer with eight goals, one more than Messi, who received the Golden Ball for best player. Leading up to the World Cup, Mbappé was PSG’s standout player, finishing as Ligue 1’s top scorer and earning the title of France’s player of the year. However, their World Cup performances have overshadowed all other accomplishments. Ruud Gullit, a former Ballon d’Or winner, acknowledged, “Because Messi won the World Cup, he has the biggest chance of winning, that’s a fact.” He expressed deep respect for Mbappé, stating, “For me, he is on the same level. What he did in the final, to take that responsibility, was unbelievable.”
Benzema’s chances of winning another individual honor were affected by his absence from the World Cup due to injury. After being exiled from the French national team for five and a half years due to his involvement in a blackmail scandal, Benzema’s Ballon d’Or victory last October marked a significant redemption in his career. The 35-year-old Real Madrid striker scored 44 goals in 46 games last season, leading his team to triumph in both the Champions League and La Liga. He has continued to find the net this season, expressing pride in his journey after receiving the Ballon d’Or.
In the women’s category, current Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, who won the Best award last year, is nominated again despite being sidelined since July with a knee injury. Other finalists include England forward Beth Mead and U.S. star Alex Morgan. For the men’s coach award, Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni is nominated alongside Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola. Sarina Wiegman, who led England to victory in Euro 2022, is nominated for the women’s coach award, competing against Sonia Bompastor of Lyon and Brazil’s Pia Sundhage. Additionally, Brazil star Richarlison’s World Cup goal against Serbia is one of three nominees for the Puskas Award for best goal, named after Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas. Marseille’s Dimitri Payet and Polish amputee player Marcin Oleksy are also in contention, while there are separate categories for the best male and female goalkeeper.
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