LEO MESSI AND PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN WIN AWARDS

Lionel Messi is the winner of the FIFA The Best 2022 award for the best player of the year. Kylian Mbappé and Achraf Hakimi were also rewarded for their performances over the period from August 2021 to December 2022.

Asuccessful evening for Paris SaintGermain!

On Monday 27 February 2023, at the Salle Pleyel in Paris, three Rouge & Bleu players were honoured.

Lionel Messi, who scored 29 goals and made 20 assists in all competitions last year, was awarded the FIFA Best Male Player prize.

The Argentine international, who was voted the best player at the last FIFA World Cup in Qatar, was one of three finalists alongside another Parisian, Kylian Mbappé, and Karim Benzema. He was chosen by a panel of experts, made up of coaches and captains of men’s national teams, football journalists and fans who voted on the official FIFA website.

The 35-year-old Rosario native, who has 58 goal contributions since joining Paris Saint-Germain (28 goals and 30 assists in 62 matches), was also named in the FIFPRO Men’s World 11.

Top scorer at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar (8 goals) and now Paris Saint-

Germain’s joint top scorer in history (200 goals), Kylian Mbappé, 24, is also in the team of the year, as is Achraf Hakimi. After a successful first season in the capital, the 24-year-old Parisian full-back shone for Morocco, who finished fourth at the last World Cup.

Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Paris Saint-Germain Chairman and CEO: “I am very happy for Leo Messi and proud that a Paris SaintGermain player has won the FIFA The Best award for best player of the year. I would also like to congratulate Kylian Mbappé, the top scorer from the 2022 World Cup in

Qatar,andAchrafHakimiwhoarepartof theyear’sbestXI.ThreeplayersoftheClub inFIFA’sbesteleven.Thisisanincentive forthemandfortherestoftheteam. ThankyoutoalltheirParisSaint-Germain teammateswhohelpedthemwinthis award.”

LeoMessi:“Iamreallyhappytowin thisawardagain.Itisoneofthe biggestprizesthateveryplayerwantsto win.TheWorldCupwastheonlytrophyI wasmissing.It’sareallyspecialmoment tonight,inaveryspecialyear.” www.en.psg.fr