Messi Beats Mbappe to FIFA Best Prize, Putellas Claims Women's Award

PSG's Lionel Messi smiles during the France League One soccer match between Reims and Paris Saint-Germain, at the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, France, Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
PSG's Lionel Messi smiles during the France League One soccer match between Reims and Paris Saint-Germain, at the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, France, Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
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Messi Beats Mbappe to FIFA Best Prize, Putellas Claims Women's Award

PSG's Lionel Messi smiles during the France League One soccer match between Reims and Paris Saint-Germain, at the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, France, Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
PSG's Lionel Messi smiles during the France League One soccer match between Reims and Paris Saint-Germain, at the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, France, Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Lionel Messi won The Best FIFA men's player prize for 2022 on Monday on the back of his World Cup triumph with Argentina and Spain's Alexia Putellas retained the women's award at a ceremony in Paris.

Messi beat his Paris Saint-Germain teammate, and World Cup final rival, Kylian Mbappe to the men's gong with Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema having been the other contender to claim the prize, AFP said.

It is the second time that Messi has won the honor inaugurated by FIFA in 2016 after football's world governing body split from Ballon d'Or organizers France Football.

The award, which is voted for by national team coaches and captains, journalists and also fans, recognises a year in which the former Barcelona star crowned his glorious career by leading Argentina to victory at the World Cup.

Messi scored twice in an epic final in Doha as Argentina beat France on penalties despite Mbappe netting a hat-trick for Les Bleus in a remarkable 3-3 draw.

He also claimed the Golden Ball for the best player at the tournament, although Mbappe was the top scorer with eight goals, one more than Messi.

"This year was just mad for me, to be able to achieve my dream that I had fought so hard for. In the end I got it and it was the most beautiful thing that has happened in my career," Messi said of his World Cup win as he collected his award.

"It is a dream for every footballer but something that very few can make come true," added Messi, who was sat in the Paris theatre in between Mbappe and his wife Antonella Roccuzzo.

He took the prize just 24 hours after combining with Mbappe to lead PSG to a 3-0 win against Marseille in Ligue 1.

- Putellas pips Mead and Morgan -
The 35-year-old, a seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, succeeds Polish star Robert Lewandowski on the FIFA honours list, while Putellas retained the women's prize despite spending the second half of last year out injured.

The 29-year-old beat England's European Championship-winning striker Beth Mead and United States star Alex Morgan to add the FIFA crown to the Ballon d'Or, which she has also won two years running.

Putellas is currently recovering from a serious knee injury suffered last July which ruled her out of the Euro in England with Spain.

Prior to that she had scored 11 goals on Barcelona's run to the Champions League final, which they lost to Lyon.

Putellas has previously said she hopes to return from injury in time to play again this season, but it remains to be seen whether she will feature for Spain at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in July and August.

Argentina's World Cup win in Qatar was also recognised as Lionel Scaloni claimed the men's coach's honour and Emiliano Martinez was named the best male goalkeeper.

Meanwhile, England's European Championship victory helped their Dutch manager Sarina Wiegman win the prize for best women's coach, while Mary Earps was named the women's goalkeeper of the year.

Polish amputee player Marcin Oleksy took the Puskas Award for best goal, named after Hungary great Ferenc Puskas.



Hungry Sabalenka Ready for More Slam Success

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka attends a media conference ahead of the Brisbane International tennis tournament at Kangaroo Point Cliffs in Brisbane on December 24, 2024. (AFP)
Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka attends a media conference ahead of the Brisbane International tennis tournament at Kangaroo Point Cliffs in Brisbane on December 24, 2024. (AFP)
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Hungry Sabalenka Ready for More Slam Success

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka attends a media conference ahead of the Brisbane International tennis tournament at Kangaroo Point Cliffs in Brisbane on December 24, 2024. (AFP)
Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka attends a media conference ahead of the Brisbane International tennis tournament at Kangaroo Point Cliffs in Brisbane on December 24, 2024. (AFP)

World number one Aryna Sabalenka says she is "fresh and ready to go" in her bid for a third straight Australian Open title, warning she has plenty of room for improvement.

The 26-year-old enjoyed a sensational 2024, reaching seven finals and winning four titles, including the US Open.

Her year was kickstarted by defending her Australian Open crown, beating China's high-flying Zheng Qinwen in the final.

Should she win it again, she will become the first woman to claim three straight Melbourne Park singles titles since Martina Hingis between 1997-1999.

"I feel fresh and ready to go," the Belarusian said, according to the WTA website Thursday, after arriving for the Brisbane International which starts on Sunday ahead of the Australian Open from January 12.

"I love Australia and I always come here hungry and always come here ready.

"I feel all the support here, and I think that's the best thing about Australia, that people are really, really, into tennis."

Sabalenka also began 2024 in Brisbane, reaching the final without losing a set only to crash to Kazakstan's Elena Rybakina in the decider.

She spent time in the off-season at her home in Florida before heading to the Middle East to prepare for Australia and will use the Brisbane tournament to fine-tune her Grand Slam preparations.

"You work hard on lots of things in the pre-season," she said.

"The first tournament before the major tournament is the one where you can try it out and see what's going to work well for you, and what's not."

Despite her rise through the ranks to be the player to beat heading into 2025, Sabalenka said there were still parts of her game that need work.

"Oh, there is so many things to improve," she said.

"I mean, I'm not that good with maybe my game at the net in singles. There is a lot of things to improve in my touch game.

"There is so many things, even my serve is not as good as I want it to be, so there is always (elements) to improve."