In his current adopted home of Paris, Lionel Messi was named world footballer of the year for the seventh time on Monday. The 35-year-old continued to build on his status as a record FIFA election winner. After his first World Cup triumph with Argentina, Messi was the logical winner. The French Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema were left behind. As in the previous year, the women’s award from the world association went to the Spaniard Alexia Putellas from FC Barcelona.
sport/fussball/international/71868030.xml"/>FIFA also honored Brazilian icon Pelé posthumously. The Argentines Lionel Scaloni (coach) and Emiliano Martínez (goalkeeper) as well as England’s European champions Sarina Wiegman (coach) and Mary Earps (goalkeeper) were also honored. The Fan Award went to Argentina, the Fair Play Award to ex-WAC kicker Luka Lochoshvili. The leg amputee Marcin Oleksy received the Puskás Award for the best hit.
