Argentina’s Lionel Messi speaks after receiving the FIFA Best Man award during the Best FIFA Awards ceremony in Paris, France, Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

PARIS (AP) — Lionel Messi has once again overtaken Kylian Mbappé, this time to win the award for the best FIFA football player of 2022.

After leading Argentina to World Cup glory, prevailing in an epic final against Mbappé’s France last December in Qatar, Messi got the most votes over his Paris Saint-Jean team-mate. Germain and Karim Benzema to win his seventh individual trophy awarded by FIFA.

Spain’s Alexia Putellas has won the best female player award for the second year in a row.

Messi, 35, became world champion after four previous unsuccessful attempts with the Albiceleste. He had the bitterness of losing the final of the 2014 Brazil tournament.

“This year has been crazy for me. I was able to achieve my dream after so many fights to get it,” Messi said Monday in his address to an audience at the Salle Pleyel symphony concert hall in Paris. “In the end, it happened and it happened. is the best thing that has happened to me in my career. Few people can get it and I could get it”.

It was a great night for the world champions.

Lionel Scaloni was proclaimed best coach and Emiliano Martínez received the trophy for best goalkeeper. FIFA gave a prize to the best supporter and so did the Argentinian supporters who cheered in Qatar.

Lionel Messi poses with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo on the green carpet ahead of The Best of FIFA awards ceremony in Paris, Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Lionel Messi poses with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo on the green carpet ahead of The Best of FIFA awards ceremony in Paris, Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni after receiving the best coach award at The Best FIFA awards ceremony, Monday, Feb. 27, 2023, in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni after receiving the best coach award at The Best FIFA awards ceremony, Monday, Feb. 27, 2023, in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Argentinian fan Tulo Bombo after receiving the Argentinians award for best fan at the FIFA The Best awards ceremony, Monday, February 27, 2023, in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Argentinian fan Tulo Bombo after receiving the Argentinians award for best fan at the FIFA The Best awards ceremony, Monday, February 27, 2023, in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

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