FIFA The Best Awards: Argentina conquered Paris with Messi, Scaloni, Dibu Martínez as fans crowned the best of 2022

There was Argentine tango in Paris. In front of the seats packed with celebrities from the world of football at the Palais Pleyel in the French capital, the Argentines, with Lionel Messi Leading the way, they have won all of The Best awards that FIFA awards each year to those shortlisted. The captain of the Argentine national team champion Qatar World Cup 2022 he won the best player trophy for the second time (the previous one was in 2019). Lionel Scaloni was chosen as the best technical director and Emiliano Martínez as the best goalkeeper. Even the Albicelesti fans won thanks to their great encouragement and color in Arab land and the popular Tula took the stage with its historic clamor.

“They make me more nervous than me,” said Messi jokingly and quite seriously in front of the microphone after receiving the award from Gianni Infantino, president of Fifa, at the end of the gala held in the freezing Parisian night. On the 10th for Argentina and on the 30th for Paris Saint-Germain, who competed against Karim Benzema (he was not present) and his club-mate Kylian Mbappé, was very nervous and moved when he spoke to those present.

“It’s a pleasure to be here again, to be with Benzema and with Kylian. Both have had a great year. It is an honor to be the winner. I want to thank my colleagues. We are Scaloni and Dibu here and we represent them. As my coach Scaloni said, this is recognition from the whole group for what we’ve done,” expressed Leo. And he continued: “This year has been crazy for me, being able to make my dream come true after I have looked for it so much, fought for it and insisted on it. It is the best thing that has happened to me in my career, very few manage to achieve it and thank God I managed to achieve it”.

Messi, winner of seven Golden Balls (the laurel awarded by France Football magazine, which until 2016 did so in collaboration with FIFA), also thanked his family and all the Argentine people “for having lived like them that we are living that beautiful month that will remain in our memory for the rest of our lives.He said goodbye to his sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, who stayed at home watching television and ordered them to go to sleep.

Dressed in an impeccable black suit with black bow tie and shirt, and accompanied by his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, the man from Rosario remained silent on the green carpet of the preview, but greeted cordially with all who crossed his path . Furthermore, La Pulga was the only Argentine to integrate the ideal eleven of the FIFPro. In this sense he beat Cristiano Ronaldo’s record by obtaining his 16th inclusion.

This award which has been awarded since 2016 is chosen by the vote of the team captains, their coaches, journalists and fans. Messi, for his part, chose his friend Neymar first, then Mbappé and Benzema third. But the best in the world swept the vote over its competitors with a final score of 52 points. 728 coaches, 717 players, 836 journalists and 1,345,851 fans voted for him. Mbappé got a score of 44, while Benzema, 34.

The evening opened with a tribute to Pele after his death last December. And then it was time for the awards. Dibu Martínez beat Yassine Bounou, the Moroccan of the national team and Sevilla, and the Belgian Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), who was not like all the candidates of the Spanish team.

Scaloni, while Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid) and Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) prevail over the Italians. The evening was complete because the Argentine fans also won, represented by Tula, who delivered a beautiful moment on stage and even made their faithful companion, the bass drum, rumble. Paris was painted in blue and white. The national team continues to celebrate and the world of football continues at its feet.

All winners:

FIFA Best Player Award: Alexia Putellas (Spain/FC Barcelona).

The FIFA Best Player Award: Lionel Messi (Argentina/Paris Saint-Germain FC).

FIFA Best Goalkeeper Award: Mary Earps (England/Manchester United WFC).

FIFA Best Goalkeeper Award: Emiliano Martínez (Argentina/Aston Villa FC).

The award for the best FIFA women’s football manager: Sarina Wiegman (England international).

The award for the best FIFA men’s football manager: Lionel Scaloni (Argentine international).

FIFA Puskás Award (best goal of the year): Marcin Oleksy (Poland/Warta Poznań).

FIFA Fair Play Award: Luka Lochoshvili (Georgia/Wolfsberger AC/US Cremonese), assisting an opponent who has suffered an epileptic seizure.

FIFA Fan Award: Argentinian fans in Qatar 2022.