IFFHS: Mbappe, Messi headline Men's World Team of the Year

• Published date: 12 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) continued to hand out its end-of-the-year awards, with the latest category being the Men's World Team of 2022 category.

And to no one's surprise, FIFA World Cup champion Lionel Messi makes a deserved appearance.

The Argentine icon, who led La Albiceleste to the prestigious title in Qatar, had already been named the World's Best Player and World's Best Playmaker of 2022 and has followed this up by making the dream XI of the recent calendar year.

But La Pulga wasn't the only Qatar 2022 superstar to make this list as Kylian Mbappe claimed a truly-merited spot on the team of the year after winning the Golden Boot. Joining the Bleus sensation in attack is another Frenchman, this time Karim Benzema, the reigning Ballon d'Or holder who inspired Real Madrid to their UEFA Champions League and La Liga success last season.

Despite featuring a 4-3-3 lineup, there was room for another attacker. That man is Erling Haaland, the former Dortmund...