Here’s what Messi said after winning his seventh FIFA Player of the Year award Individual performance or team achievement – 2022 has been like a dream for Lionel Messi. It was certain that he would win the FIFA Footballer of the Year award in Paris. When the Argentine star finally officially touched the award for the seventh time, his voice was full of excitement and emotion.
Lionel Messi was announced as the winner of ‘The Best FIFA Football Awards’ in Paris on Monday (February 27). Later, FIFA president Gianni Infantino presented the ‘FIFA The Best Men’s Footballer Award’ to Argentine superstar Lionel Messi. He beat Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema to win the award.
The two French stars also had a great last year. In individual performances, Benzema had one of the best years of his career for Real Madrid in 2022. Won UEFA Champions League, La Liga, Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup titles. However, due to injury, he did not play his last World Cup for the national team.
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On the other hand, Mbappe had an eye-catching performance everywhere, whether it was the club or the national team. However, this star did not win much except the league trophy for PSG in the account of the team’s achievements. But there was a chance to win the FIFA World Cup trophy. Despite Mbappe’s best individual performance, Messi ultimately took the show in Qatar.
Even at the age of 35, the Albiceleste star has given Argentina its third World Cup title after 36 years of regret. It’s been two months since he won the dream trophy in December, but the memory still makes him emotional.
Reminiscing the memory of the FIFA Player of the Year award, Messi said, ‘Unimaginable! It’s been a great year and it’s an honor to be here and win this award. I couldn’t be here without my teammates. I have finally been able to fulfill the dream that I have had for a long time. Very few people can achieve this and I feel lucky to have fulfilled the dream.
“Finally I want to thank the family and the people of Argentina who have been waiting for this beautiful moment and I will remember this memory forever.”
Messi won the FIFA The Best award for the first time in 2009. He continued that for the next three years. He won the Rookie of the Year award again in 2015 after a break of two seasons. Messi won the award for the sixth time in 2019 after FIFA The Best and Ballon d’Or separated.