Messi named World Sport Star of the Year after World Cup triumph
Messi named BBC Sports Personality's World Sport Star of the Year after the World Cup triumph
Messi named BBC Sports Personality’s World Sport Star of the Year after the World Cup triumph.
Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain Lionel Messi has been awarded the BBC Sports Personality’s World Sport Star of the Year for 2022.
Argentina’s first World Cup victory in 36 years came in Qatar, thanks in large part to Messi, 35.
After scoring seven goals at his seventh World Cup, the Paris St. Germain attacker earned the competition’s Golden Ball, which is given to the greatest player.
The former Barcelona player is regarded as one of the all-time great footballers.
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Argentina defeated defending champions France 4-2 on penalties after a dramatic 3-3 draw thanks to two goals from Messi in the World Cup final and the conversion of a penalty in the shootout.
It meant he added football’s biggest prize to a list of trophies that includes seven Ballons d’Or titles – awarded to the best footballer each year – four Champions Leagues, one Copa America, 10 La Liga titles with Barcelona, and a Ligue 1 crown with PSG.
In addition, he has scored a staggering 793 goals in his career.
“It’s everyone’s dream when they’re little. I’ve been lucky enough to achieve everything and what I was missing, I found here,” Messi said after lifting the World Cup on Sunday.
Messi won his first French championship with Paris St. Germain in April, and since the 2022–23 season got underway in August, he has scored 12 goals and sent out 14 assists in 19 club games.
Messi will turn 39 during the next World Cup in 2026 and had hinted previously the finals in Qatar would be his last.
If so, it would have been the ideal way for him to complete his international career after Argentina won the Copa America last year.
He stated after winning the World Cup that he would like to “continue by experiencing a few more games as a world champion” and that he has no immediate plans to leave the national team.
The BBC World Sport Star of the Year is awarded by a panel to the athlete who has achieved the most notable sporting success on the world stage during the course of the year.
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