PARIS – Just like in the World Cup final, Paris Saint-Germain teammates Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe go up against each other for The Best Fifa Men’s Player prize for 2022 on Monday, with Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema the other contender.
The ceremony takes place in Paris, and Messi appears the favourite to add another individual gong to his collection after leading Argentina to glory over Mbappe’s France in that epic encounter in Qatar.
Messi has won the Ballon d’Or seven times and claimed the Fifa award – inaugurated in 2016 following Fifa’s split with Ballon d’Or organisers France Football – once in 2019.
He has made the podium in the last two years when Robert Lewandowski won the title, but the 35-year-old’s career-crowning World Cup triumph was the defining moment of 2022.
The winner is decided by a jury comprised of the coach and captain of every men’s national team and one journalist from each country, but fans can also vote.
Mbappe became the first player to score a World Cup final hat-trick since Geoff Hurst in 1966 as he dragged France to a 3-3 draw after extra time – despite two goals by Messi – before they eventually succumbed in a shoot-out.
Mbappe, 24, was the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, one more than Messi, who claimed the Golden Ball for best player.
The Frenchman was also comfortably PSG’s most important player in the year leading up to the World Cup, despite being joined there by Messi. He was Ligue 1’s leading scorer and Player of the Year last season.
However, their World Cup achievements overshadow everything else.
“Because Messi won the World Cup, he has the biggest chance of winning, that’s a fact,” admitted Ruud Gullit, a former Ballon d’Or winner.
The Dutchman was speaking in his role as a member of the Laureus Academy, which recently included Mbappe and Messi among the nominees for their own awards.
“But I have so much respect for Mbappe. For me, he is on the same level. What he did in the final, to take that responsibility, was unbelievable,” he added.
Benzema’s chances of winning another individual honour were hit after he missed the World Cup due to injury.
Exiled from the French team for 5½ years because of his involvement in a blackmail scandal over a sex tape involving a former teammate, Benzema’s Ballon d’Or win last October had completed his own career redemption.
The Real Madrid striker, 35, scored 44 goals in 46 games for his club last season, inspiring them to glory in the Champions League and La Liga.
He has continued to bang in the goals this campaign, with 18 goals in 25 appearances. AFP
