Leo Messi and Paris Saint-Germain win awards

A successful evening for Paris Saint-Germain!

On Monday 27 February 2023, at the Salle Pleyel in Paris, three Rouge & Bleu players were honoured.

Lionel Messi, who scored 29 goals and made 20 assists in all competitions last year, was awarded the FIFA Best Male Player prize. 

The Argentine international, who was voted the best player at the last FIFA World Cup in Qatar, was one of three finalists alongside another Parisian, Kylian Mbappé, and Karim Benzema. He was chosen by a panel of experts, made up of coaches and captains of men's national teams, football journalists and fans who voted on the official FIFA website.

The 35-year-old Rosario native, who has 58 goal contributions since joining Paris Saint-Germain (28 goals and 30 assists in 62 matches), was also named in the FIFPRO Men's World 11.

Top scorer at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar (8 goals) and now Paris Saint-Germain's joint top scorer in history (200 goals), Kylian Mbappé, 24, is also in the team of the year, as is Achraf Hakimi. After a successful first season in the capital, the 24-year-old Parisian full-back shone for Morocco, who finished fourth at the last World Cup.

Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Paris Saint-Germain President

"I am very happy for Leo Messi and proud that a Paris Saint-Germain player has won the FIFA The Best award for best player of the year. I would also like to congratulate Kylian Mbappé, the top scorer from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and Achraf Hakimi who are part of the year's best XI. Three players of the Club in FIFA's best eleven. This is an incentive for them and for the rest of the team. Thank you to all their Paris Saint-Germain teammates who helped them win this award."

Leo Messi 

"I am really happy to win this award again. It is one of the biggest prizes that every player wants to win. The World Cup was the only trophy I was missing. It's a really special moment tonight, in a very special year."