FIFA THE BEST 2023: the big surprise in the ranking

Every year, the whole world comes together in front of their TV to watch an unmissable international football event: the FIFA-The Best ceremony. \n\nThis year, it was on the stage of the Salle Pleyel in Paris that the stars of football came together to nominate the best players and coaches of the year. The big controversy of this evening? \n\nThe coronation of Lionel Messi, crowned last night as best player for the year 2022. \n

A victory due to his triumph in the World Cup

\nA ceremony that felt like a real roller coaster, where each vote raised its share of surprises and debate around each person's place in this ranking. A controversy from which emerged victorious Lionel Messi, thanks in particular to his brilliant performance during the World Cup held in Qatar, which therefore influenced the final result. \n\nA victory far from being unanimously shared, since for many – notably Madrid supporters – Karim Benzema should have been the one to win this trophy, for having been the reigning Ballon d'Or and author of the Liga-Champions League double with Real Madrid. \n\nRead also: Lionel Messi, a singular destiny by winning this new prestigious trophy\r\n

The most surprising votes of the evening

\nDespite all these criticisms, the fact remains that the ceremony of The Best offered some of the most surprising and unexpected votes of the year. \n\nStarting with that of French coach Didier Deschamps, absent from the coaches ranking, and who chose to vote for Kylian Mbappé in front of Karim Benzema and Lionel Messi, and Yassine Bounou, Thibaut Courtois and Alisson Becker among the goalkeepers, skipping Hugo Lloris in the process. \n\nAnother surprising vote from David Alaba, who placed Lionel Messi ahead of Karim Benzema among players, and Carlo Ancelotti ahead of Zinedine Zidane among coaches. \n\nWithout forgetting Luis de la Fuente, the Spanish coach, who preferred the trio Julian Alvarez, Jude Bellingham and Luka Modric to the usual favorites. \n\nOr Djamel Belmadi, the coach of the Fennecs, who showed himself to be impartial by voting for Walid Regragui in the coaches category and Yassine Bounou among the goalkeepers, despite the sporting competition between Morocco and Algeria. \n\nRead also: Late football legend: The life and legacy of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé\r\n

The 2020 Puskas Trophy awarded to Marcin Oleksy

\nIf the evening ended with a victory for Lionel Messi, it ended above all with a rare and emotional moment. \n\nNamely, the presentation of the 2020 Puskas Trophy, awarded each year to the most spectacular goal of the year. Three candidates were then in the running: Dimitri Payet with his sublime shot against PAOK in the Conference League, Kylian Mbappé, author of a magnificent volley against Brazil in the 2022 World Cup final and Richarlison, author of a splendid scissor in Qatar . \n\nBut it was ultimately the Pole Marcin Oleksy, a leg amputee and member of the national Parafootball team, who received this prestigious prize thanks to a spectacular return performed on crutches. A real strong symbol and a beautiful image to conclude this evening of The Best 2022. \n