Results of the FIFA gala evening: why Messi is the best again

FIFA again disgraced? It is hardly worth judging strictly those who in recent years have shown a rather peculiar attitude towards the most popular sport, turning it into a purely commercial enterprise. Rather, this time the leadership of FIFA “a little” overdid it.

It cannot be denied that this event is always compared to the Ballon d’Or ceremony and the selection of the best players, coaches and teams of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). And this comparison is no longer in favor of the international federation. But first things first…

The gala evening began with memories of the great Pel, who left us on December 29, 2022. Infantino gave a sensual speech in which he said that the King of Football will live forever in our memory. After his performance, Pele’s wife Marcia Aoki took the stage to receive a special FIFA “Best Forever” award from the hands of the world champion, the Brazilian Ronaldo, in memory of her late husband. Aoki, Ronaldo and Pele’s teammate Jairzinho spoke very fondly of the great Brazilian, and it was very touching. And it would be nice if, after a minute of silence, the awards ceremony itself began. But according to the script, Infantino again took the floor. Set to, according to FIFA’s website, “reflect on the year 2022 has just passed and look into an exciting 2023.”

What a year we’ve had! – Exclaimed the President of FIFA – We have just experienced the best World Cup in history. Let me once again thank Qatar for bringing the world together in an incredible event that we will never forget! In the new year we will have the Women’s World Cup. in Australia and New Zealand, and of course you are all invited there! These two years have been and will be like no other!

However, following the Russian proverb: “Who is talking about what, but …”, what else could he say, given all the scandals that surrounded this really wonderful championship.

This performance, in fact, determined the distribution of the main FIFA awards for 2022.

Triumph of Argentina

The best player was named the captain of the Argentine national team, striker of the French PSG, the best player in the World Cup in Qatar, the record holder for the number of Golden Balls (he has seven) Lionel Messi.

The best goalkeeper (among men) “for outstanding performances at the World Cup” was Messi’s teammate Emiliano Martinez. Photos of the French striker Kylian Mbappe present at the ceremony immediately appeared on the network. Which was especially poignant when recalling Martinez shaking a doll with a Frenchman’s face during the parade of winners in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires.

The award “Best FIFA Men’s Coach” went to Albicelesta’s mentor Lionel Scaloni.

Well, the prize “Best FIFA Fan” went to … Argentine fans. The award was presented to the famous Carlos Pascual, better known in Argentina as El Tula, a veteran of 13 world championships who struck his drum for the first time in Germany in 1974.

Is it fair? Not only the fans, but also many specialists were surprised by this choice. However, do not forget who and for what gives these awards. Naturally, for FIFA the main tournament is the World Cup. And the same Vinicius and Benzema in Real Madrid, or Mbappe in PSG can jump over their heads all year, but the best for Infantino will be the victors of his championship.

Although this statement is not entirely true. According to FIFA’s website, “the winners of the ‘Best Player, Goalkeeper and Coach’ categories were determined by a vote in which four groups had equal voting rights: football fans, elected media representatives, and captains and head coaches of national teams from around the world. “. And for many of them, the success of the Argentines at the last World Cup outweighed all the other merits of all other players and coaches in national and international tournaments. Because the victory at the World Cup is really worth a lot. Especially in such a crazy final that Argentina and France gave us in Qatar.

By the way, the top three players from the head coach of the Russian national team Valery Karpin, as follows from the bulletins published on the FIFA website, looks like this: Messi, Benzema, Mbappe. And the version of the captain of our national team Jikia is Mbappe, Messi, Benzema.

As for the best coach, Scaloni was not listed at all in the top three of Karpin, and Valery Georgievich put Ancelotti, the coach of Real Madrid, in the first place. Yes, and Jikia considers the best not the Argentinean, but the Frenchman Didier Deschamps.

Mbappe congratulated Messi

“It’s amazing. It’s been an amazing year and I’m honored to be here tonight and win this award. I want to thank Scaloni and my teammates, without them I wouldn’t be here. I have fulfilled the dream that I had hoped for so long, and finally I have fulfilled it. This is the dream of any player, very few people can achieve this, and I was lucky to do it. I want to thank my family and the people of Argentina for this special month, which will remain in our memory for a lifetime,” Messi said.

Kylian Mbappe, who sat next to Messi at the awards ceremony at the Pleyel Hall in Paris, congratulated his teammate. “Another prize. Congratulations, Lionel Messi, you are the best, ”Mbappé wrote on one of his social networks.

A small scandal

Where without him?

As is tradition, FIFA, together with the International Federation of Professional Footballers’ Associations (FIFPro), presented the 2022 Men’s World Team. Which, through the FIFPro voting system and affiliated national professional unions of players, was chosen by the players themselves.

The voting results were quite interesting. For the first time since 2007, Cristiano Ronaldo was not included in this team. Which is quite fair, considering what season he spent and how he ended it.

This event was especially offensive for KriRo because Messi got into the world team (also quite expected). Which has now become the sole leader in terms of the number of participation in this honorary team. The Argentinean has 16 nominations, while Ronaldo has 15. And the Portuguese, apparently, will need to score a hat-trick in every match for Al-Nasr in the new season to regain his place in the world team.