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Continuing the awards! The FIFA Ideal Team for 2022, presented at The Best gala on Monday, February 27, in Paris, featured Lionel Messi, French players Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappé, and Norwegian Erling Haaland. Despite three of these forwards being candidates for the "Best Player" award. What caught attention was that the players from Madrid and Manchester City did not attend.
In a highly offensive formation, four forwards were included, three of whom were the finalists for the best footballer award. They share the field with athletes of the stature of Brazilian Casemiro, Croatian Luka Modric, and Moroccan Achraf Hakimi.
In the central defensive line, Dutchman Virgil van Dijk, from Liverpool, and Portuguese Joao Cancelo from Bayern Munich are included. The team is completed with the presence of Belgian Kevin de Bruyne from Manchester City. In summary, the lineup had three defenders, three midfielders, and four attackers.
The list of players who make up the Best 11 of The Best Awards
According to FIFA, the ideal team is selected by thousands of professional footballers from different confederations, who choose the outstanding athletes. Here is the complete list of The Best Best 11.
- Thibaut Courtois.
- Achraf Hakimi
- Joao Cancelo
- Virgil Van Dijk
- Kevin de Bruyne
- Luka Modric
- Casemiro
- Lionel Messi
- Kylian Mbappé
- Karim Benzema
- Erling Haaland
The Best Awards 2023: Ceremony highlights and Messi's crowning
Lionel Messi, captain of the Argentine national team, received The Best award for the best footballer of 2023 in a ceremony organized by FIFA. In the voting, the South American surpassed Kylian Mbappé and Karim Benzema. On the women's side, Alexia Putellas triumphed as the best female footballer.
The night was also special for the members of the Albiceleste, as they won the awards they were nominated for. Scaloni was chosen as the "Best Coach," 'Dibu' Martinez as "Best Goalkeeper," and the Argentine fans as the "Best Fans."