Lionel Messi has won the Best FIFA Men’s Player award at the Paris ceremony on Monday following Argentina’s World Cup triumph.
Messi won the gong ahead of Kylian Mbappe, whom he beat with Argentina in the World Cup final as they downed France in a penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw in December. Karim Benzema was third.
Messi received 5 2votes, ahead of Mbappe on 44 and Benzema on 34.
“I want to express my thanks to (coach Lionel) Scaloni and my teammates; without them I would not be here,” Messi said.
“I achieved a dream I had been hoping for so long and finally I achieved it. It’s a dream for any player; very few people can achieve that and I was lucky enough to do so.”
Messi has won the award twice, along with five Ballon d’Or gongs and one FIFA World Player of the Year.
The Argentine’s decorated career was arguably best capped by last year’s World Cup triumph with his nation, their first in 36 years.
Messi was also named in the FIFPro’s Men’s World 11 in a 3-3-4 formation, alongside Benzema, Mbappe and Erling Haaland in attack.
Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez won the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award ahead of Thibaut Courtois and Yassine Bounou. Scaloni also won the Best FIFA Men’s Coach.
Spain’s Alexia Putellas won the Best FIFA Women’s Player ahead of Alex Morgan and Beth Mead.
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