| Date: Wednesday, December 21 Meeting: UK Media City, Salford |
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Lionel Messi, Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain, has been named World Sports Star of 2022 by BBC Sports Personal.
Messi, 35, led Argentina to its first World Cup title in 36 years in Qatar.
The Paris St-Germain striker won the tournament Golden Ball – awarded to the best player – after scoring seven goals at his fifth World Cup.
The former Barcelona star is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest football players of all time.
Messi scored twice in the World Cup final and also converted a penalty in the penalty shootout into Argentina beat defending champion France 4-2 on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw.
That means he’s added football’s biggest prize to a roster of trophies that includes seven Ballons d’Or trophies – awarded to the best footballer each year – four Champions Leagues, one Copa America, 10 La Liga titles with Barcelona and a Ligue 1 title with PSG.
In addition, he has scored an incredible 793 goals in his career.
“It was everyone’s dream as a child. I was lucky enough to achieve everything and what I lacked, I found here,” Messi said after lifting the world championship trophy yesterday. Sunday.
With Paris St-Germain, Messi won his first French championship in April and since the 2022-23 campaign began in August, he has scored 12 goals and has 14 assists in 19 appearances. stadium for the club.
Messi will turn 39 in the next World Cup in 2026 and has previously hinted that the final in Qatar will be his last. If so, it would be the perfect way to end his international career following Argentina’s Copa America win last year.
He has no plans to retire from the national team, saying after lifting the World Cup that he wants to “to continue by experiencing a few more matches as a world champion”.
The BBC World Sports Star of the Year is awarded by a panel to the athlete who has achieved the most remarkable sporting achievements in the world arena throughout the year.
The winner of 2021 is Irish racer Rachael Blackmore.
