Messi Crowned IFFHS Best Player Of 2022

Argentine maestro Lionel Messi has been crowned the IFFHS Best player of 2022 after guiding his country to a FIFA World Cup title in Qatar.

The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) best player award was first created in 1988. Marco Van Basten (1988 and 1989) and Lothar Matthaus (1990) were the 3 winners (1988 to 1990) before FIFA President Sepp Blatter asked IFFHS to let this World Award to FIFA, to become FIFA World Player of the Year. 

Since 2020, the IFFHS has decided to award again IFFHS WORLD’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR and Robert Lewandowski was the winner of the Awards 2020 and 2021.

In 2022, despite the great performances of Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi was acclaimed to receive the Award of IFFHS MEN’S WORLD BEST PLAYER 2022.

Messi, already the winner of the IFFHS WORLD’S BEST INTERNATIONAL GOAL SCORER 2022 Award, totalized 275 points after winning of the World Cup in Qatar.

He was sovereign voted as the World’s Best Player with 275 points before Kylian Mbappe (35 points) and Karim Benzema (30). 

Only two other players Luka Modric and Erling Haaland earned also points, Messi’s domination was total, he won today his 12th IFFHS Award.

THE RANKING 2022 

1. Lionel Messi (Argentina/PSG) 275 pts
2. Kylian Mbappe (France/PSG) 35 pts
3. Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid) 30pts
4. Luka Modric (Croatia/Real Madrid) 15 pts
5. Erling Haaland (Norway/Manchester City) 5 pts