Barcelona and Spain star Alexia Putellas was named The Best
FIFA women’s player for 2022 at a ceremony in Paris on Monday, taking the award
for the second year running.
Putellas, who is also the reigning Ballon d’Or, beat
England’s Beth Mead and Alex Morgan of the United States to claim the award
voted for by national team coaches and captains, journalists and fans.
The 29-year-old beat England’s European Championship-winning
striker Beth Mead and United States star Alex Morgan to add the FIFA crown to
the Ballon d’Or, which she has also won two years running.
Putellas is currently recovering from a serious knee injury
suffered last July which ruled her out of the Euro in England with Spain.
Previous winners of women’s footballer of the year
2016 — Carli Lloyd
2017 — Lieke Martens
2018 — Marta
2019 — Megan Rapinoe
2020 — Lucy Bronze
2021 — Alexia Putellas
Prior to that, she had scored 11 goals on Barcelona’s run to
the Champions League final, which they lost to Lyon.
Putellas also said she hoped to return from injury in time
to play again this season, but it remains to be seen whether she will feature
for Spain at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in July and August.
Argentina’s World Cup win in Qatar was also recognised as
Lionel Scaloni claimed the men’s coach’s honour and Emiliano Martinez was named
the best male goalkeeper.
Meanwhile, England’s European Championship victory helped
their Dutch manager Sarina Wiegman win the prize for best women’s coach, while
Mary Earps was named the women’s goalkeeper of the year.
Polish amputee player Marcin Oleksy took the Puskas Award
for best goal, named after Hungary great Ferenc Puskas.
The FIFPro women’s XI was also named.
Women’s XI
GK: Christiane Endler
DEF: Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, Wendie Renard, Mapi Leon
MID: Keira Walsh, Alexia Putellas, Lena Oberdorf
FOR: Alex Morgan, Beth Mead and Sam Kerr