The Best FIFA Football Awards 2022 LIVE – Lionel Messi and Alexia Putellas win top awards

21:50 – Thanks for joining us!

Lionel Messi and Alexia Putellas are the two biggest winners in Paris as another FIFA Best Awards draws to a close.

Over and out!

21:38 – Messi wins Best FIFA Men’s Player

Time to update his Wikipedia page again, Lionel Messi has another individual award – the Argentine superstar is the Best FIFA Men’s Player once more.

As we’re sure you’re aware, the 35-year-old fired seven goals in Qatar as Argentina won their third World Cup – and a long overdue first of the Messi era.

“Wow, it’s amazing. It’s an honour for me to be here tonight and win this award,” he begins.

“Without my team-mates I wouldn’t be here. It was an amazing year and I achieved the dream that I’ve been hoping for so long and finally, I managed to achieve it.

“t’s the most wonderful thing that’s happened to me in my career.”

21:30 – Putellas wins Best FIFA Women’s Player

It’s two in a row for Alexia Putellas!

Putellas was the headline act as Barcelona did a league and cup double last season, winning all 30 of their league matches to finish with a perfect record.

“If you have a dream and you fight for it as hard as you can, you can achieve that dream,” says Putellas.

“The most important thing is to enjoy yourself along the way.”

It means it’s disappointment for England star Beth Mead, who grabbed a rare golden boot-golden ball double as the Lionesses roared to the Euro 2022 trophy.

21:28 – Time for the big awards…

Wow. We’ve just been treated to one of the worst songs ever written, featuring chart-topping lyrics such as “just like Peter Pan I’ll never change” and “I’m the best, yeah yeah”.

Anyway, it’s finally time for the reason we’re all here: the men’s and women’s individual awards.

21:18 – Messi, Mbappe, Benzema, Haaland all in FIFA Men’s World XI

Ah yes, the famous 3-3-4 formation.

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema and Erling Haaland all make the cut in a four-man attack in the FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World XI, leaving the other six outfield players with the unenviable task of covering the remaining space should this fictional team ever take to the pitch.

“We would probably have the ball for the whole match anyway,” quips Casemiro, who is also in, when told the team might be too attacking.

For the first time since 2006, Cristiano Ronaldo is absent. Realistically, his hopes rested on a 2-3-5 formation.

21:12 – Four Lionesses in FIFA Women’s World XI

Lionesses captain Leah Williamson headlines a quartet of England players in the FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World XI, along with Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh.

The World XI is unique in being the only global player award decided exclusively by footballers.

21:03 – Argentina supporters win FIFA Best Fan Award

If you followed the World Cup in Qatar, you won’t have missed Argentina super fan Carlos ‘Tula’ Pascual and his drum.

Tula arrives on stage to collect the FIFA Best Fan Award on behalf of all Argentina supporters, sporting full kit and, of course, his drum. And he can’t resist signing off his speech without a hearty bang. Top man.

20:58 – Lochoshvili wins FIFA Fair Play Award

Luka Lochoshvili gets the recognition he deserves after his stunning act of quick-thinking last February potentially saved the life of opponent Georg Teigl. The Wolfsberger defender raced to the Austria Wien player after he fell unconscious mid-match and prevented him from swallowing his tongue.

“The most important thing in football is fair play and respect. I’m really happy that he’s alive,” says Lochoshvili via video link.

20:51 – Scaloni wins Best FIFA Men’s Coach

Lionel Scaloni shares a hug with Lionel Messi and a hearty hand slap with Kylian Mbappe en route to the stage, where the Best FIFA Men’s Coach Award awaits him.

It’s been quite a day for the 44-year-old, who penned a new deal as Argentina boss until 2026 earlier on Monday.

20:45 – Wiegman wins Best FIFA Women’s Coach

It’s two from two for the Lionesses. Sarina Wiegman wins the Best FIFA Women’s Coach Award for a THIRD TIME after overseeing England’s run to a first major women’s trophy at Euro 2022.

“From when I could walk, I’ve loved football,” Wiegman says.

“And over the years I’ve seen how the women’s football game has grown… it’s just incredible to be here right now and celebrate women’s football.”

20:37 – Oleksy wins Puskas Award

Absolute scenes, Marcin Oleksy wins the FIFA Puskas Award! There might not be a more worthy winner in the gong’s history.

If you haven’t seen the clip of the amputee footballer’s stunning bicycle kick, stop what you are doing and get a load of this. And if you have seen it, stop what you are doing and get a load of this (again):

“It is actually hard for me to imagine receiving this is award – and here I am, receiving this award for the best goal,” he says.

Wonderful stuff.

20:32 – Martinez wins Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper

Barely two months after playing a starring role in Argentina’s World Cup triumph, Emi Martinez takes the men’s goalkeeper award.

Most impressively, he makes it through his whole acceptance speech without mentioning Mbappe or putting the trophy to his midriff…

20:25 – Earps wins Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper

Mary Earps, England’s heroic stopper at Euro 2022, wins the first award of the night.

“I don’t really know what to say. I feel really honoured… with this really heavy trophy!” she says, before offering some words of encouragement to anyone struggling.

“Anyone who has ever been in a dark place, just know there is light at the end of the tunnel. There’s only one of you in the world – and that’s more than good enough. Be unapologetically yourself.”

20:15 – Ronaldo salutes Pele

After a lovely video tribute to Pele, fellow Brazil great Ronaldo arrives on stage to offer his own glowing remarks in Portuguese.

The late striker’s wife, Marcia Aoki, is handed a special award by Ronaldo and says she has a three-word tribute. “Grateful, grateful, grateful.”

20:00 – And here we go!

After a brief hello from our presenters, Jermaine Jenas and Samantha Johnson, here’s FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

Infantino salutes “the best World Cup ever” in Qatar before paying tribute to Brazil legend Pele, who died in December.

19:55 – Messi and Mbappe are in town

PSG stars Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe have strolled down the green carpet, each hoping to pick up the top men’s individual prize.

19:25 – Meanwhile over on BT Sport…

Fiorentina defender Cristiano Biraghi has just set out his claim for the next Puskas Award after a sensational free-kick from inside his own half in Serie A.

On closer inspection, it does appear the referee was about to whistle, but don’t let that minor controversy stop you enjoying a glorious goal.

18:55 – New deal for Scaloni

Lionel Scaloni has signed on to Argentina’s World Cup defence after penning a contract extension until 2026. And according to transfer oracle Fabrizio Romano, he’s set to win Best FIFA Men’s Coach later too. Which seems fair enough.

18:40 – Bono in town

Yassine Bounou, known to you and me as Bono, has arrived in Paris. He’s hoping to pick up the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper gong.

18:20 – Lionesses in the house

Lucy Bronze and Beth Mead are ready and waiting in Paris.

A reminder that the ceremony gets started at 8pm GMT.

18:05 – Who is the best goalkeeper?

If there’s one award that’s really tough to call it’s the Best Men’s Goalkeeper.

Yassine Bounou was excellent as Morocco became the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final, but he’s up against Thibaut Courtois and Emiliano Martinez.

Courtois excelled in last season’s Champions League, pulling off several key stops in the final against Liverpool, and Martinez won the Golden Glove award for the best goalkeeper at the World Cup as Argentina won.

Who you got?

17:30 – England treble?

How many of England’s nominees will win awards tonight? Surely Sarina Wiegman has a strong shout after winning the Euros and going unbeaten all year.

17:00 – Who’s your Puskas pick?

Of course, it’s not just the men’s and women’s individual awards that are capturing all the attention. There’s also the small matter of the Puskas Award…

Three absolute corking nominees this year, courtesy of Dimitri Payet, Richarlison and Marcin Oleksy.

Check out the trio below:

16:30 – Famous faces

A flurry of famous faces have begun to descend on Paris ahead of the awards.

16:00 – England’s Mead in running

England’s Euro 2022 hero Beth Mead, who won a rare Golden Boot-Golden Ball combo as the Lionesses won the trophy, is on the three-strong shortlist for the women’s award, alongside Alex Morgan and Alexia Putellas.

Putellas is considered the favourite, after her stunning role in Barcelona’s domestic dominance last season. Putellas tore her ACL in July, ruling her out of the Euros, but had enough goals in the bank to make an appearance in the final three – and possibly cart away the top gong.

Meanwhile, Morgan won the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship, winning the Golden Ball as the United States lifted the trophy.

15:00 – Who’s the smart money on?

Can you really look beyond Argentina’s main man? I mean, a World Cup win and starring role essentially cemented Lionel Messi’s status as the sport’s GOAT, right?

But hold on, what about his Paris Saint Germain team-mate Kylian Mbappe? Scorer of a hat-trick in said World Cup final for France and left Qatar with the golden boot, no less.

Although he missed the World Cup, Karim Benzema can argue that his contribution to Real Madrid’s latest Champions League triumph – including goals to eliminate Messi and Mbappe along the way – would make him a more than worthy winner.

As far as the women are concerned, Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas is gunning for a second title in a row having lifted last year’s award. However, she faces stiff competition from England Lioness Beth Mead, who’s six goals helped her country to a historic Euro 2022 win last summer.

14:00 – 2021 winners

The list of winners from last year were:

• The Best FIFA Men’s Player: Robert Lewandowski
• The Best FIFA Women’s Player: Alexia Putellas
• The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper: Edouard Mendy
• The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper: Christiane Endler
• The Best FIFA Men’s Coach: Thomas Tuchel
• The Best FIFA Women’s Coach: Emma Hayes
• The FIFA Puskas Award: Erik Lamela
• The FIFA Fair Play Award: Denmark national team and medical staff
• The FIFA Fan Award: Denmark and Finland fans

13:00 – How the voting works

While the Ballon d’Or is decided by votes from 100 journalists from around the world, the Best FIFA Football Awards takes votes from four different groups.

The list of candidates for each category is first selected by FIFA, and then voted on by media representatives, national team coaches, national team captains and fans.

The weight of votes is evenly distributed between the four groups, meaning each group has 25% of the total vote.

Voting for the general public closed on February 3. although voting for the winner of the Best FIFA Fan Award ran until February 26.

12:00 – Welcome

Welcome to Eurosport’s live text coverage on the The Best FIFA awards as we train our eyes on Paris to see who will be taking home the top prizes.

How to watch The Best FIFA Football Awards

The seventh edition of The Best FIFA Awards ceremony takes place on Monday, February 27 and will start at 8pm GMT.

The Best FIFA Men’s Player final three nominees

• Karim Benzema (France / Real Madrid)
• Kylian Mbappe (France / Paris Saint-Germain)
• Lionel Messi (Argentina / Paris Saint-Germain)

The Best FIFA Women’s Player final three nominees

• Beth Mead (England / Arsenal)
• Alex Morgan (USA / Orlando Pride / San Diego Wave)
• Alexia Putellas (Spain / Barcelona)

The Best FIFA Women’s Coach final three nominees

• Sonia Bompastor (Lyon)
• Pia Sundhage (Brazil)
• Sarina Wiegman (England)

The Best FIFA Men’s Coach final three nominees

• Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)
• Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)
• Lionel Scaloni (Argentina)

The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper final three nominees

• Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany / Chelsea)
• Mary Earps (England / Manchester United)
• Christiane Endler (Chile / Lyon)

The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper final three nominees

• Yassine Bounou (Morocco / Sevilla)
• Thibaut Courtois (Belgium / Real Madrid)
• Emiliano Martínez (Argentina / Aston Villa)

The Best FIFA Puskas Award final three nominees

• Marcin Oleksy (Poland): Warta Poznań v Stal Rzeszow [PZU Amp Futbol Ekstraklasa] (6 November 2022)
• Dimitri Payet (France): Marseille v PAOK Thessaloniki [UEFA Europa Conference League] (7 April 2022)
• Richarlison (Brazil): Brazil v Serbia [FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022] (24 November 2022)