Lionel Messi, the captain of Argentina who won the World Cup, has been awarded the BBC Sports Personality’s World Sport Star of the Year for 2022.
Argentina’s first World Cup victory in 36 years came in Qatar, thanks in large part to Messi, 35.
After scoring seven goals at his seventh World Cup, the Paris St. Germain attacker earned the competition’s Golden Ball, which is given to the greatest player.
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The former Barcelona player is regarded as one of the all-time great footballers.
Argentina defeated defending champions France 4-2 on penalties after a dramatic 3-3 draw thanks to two goals from Messi in the World Cup final and the conversion of a penalty in the shootout.
It meant he added the sport’s top honor to a collection that already included 10 La Liga crowns with Barcelona, seven Ballons d’Ors (given annually to the best player), four Champions Leagues, one Copa America, and a Ligue 1 championship with PSG.
He has also tallied an astounding 793 goals throughout his career.
“It’s everyone’s dream when they’re little. I’ve been lucky enough to achieve everything and what I was missing, I found here,” Messi said after lifting the World Cup on Sunday.
Messi won his first French championship with Paris St. Germain in April, and since the 2022–23 season got underway in August, he has scored 12 goals and sent out 14 assists in 19 club games.
Messi hinted that the World Cup finals in Qatar would be his last when he turned 39 during the 2026 tournament. If so, it would have been the ideal way for him to complete his international career after Argentina won the Copa America last year.
He stated after winning the World Cup that he would like to “continue by experiencing a few more games as a world champion” and that he has no immediate plans to leave the national team.
The athlete who has experienced the most sporting achievement on the international stage throughout the course of the year is given the BBC World Sport Star of the Year award by a panel.
Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore won in 2021.