Where Africa's Finest Placed in the Voting of the 2022 FIFA The Best Awards

• Sadio Mane placed highest among the Africans that made FIFA's list for players at The Best Awards
• The Senegalese star was joined by Mohamed Salah and Achraf Hakimi in the top 15 best players
• Mane missed the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar through injury and returned to action this month

The 2022 FIFA The Best player awards in France on February 27 ended with arguably the greatest player of all-time, Lionel Messi winning the top prize.

Three African players were included in a list of the world's 15 best footballers, including Senegal star, Sadio Mane.

He placed sixth, the highest by an African player at the 2022 awards ceremony despite missing the World Cup in Qatar.

Meanwhile, World Cup star and Paris Saint-Germain defender, Achraf Hakimi came in eighth and was also named in the FIFPro World XI.

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Egypt and Liverpool talisman, Mohamed Salah was 14th on the list dominated by PSG and Real Madrid stars.

The list shared on social media shows Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema as the top three best players.

Salah and Mane led Liverpool to the final of the 2022 UEFA Champions League before losing to Real Madrid in Paris. However, they won the domestic double of EFL Cup and the FA Cup.

Mane also led Senegal to their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations triumph while Hakimi was part of the historic Morocco team that reached the semi-final of the World Cup.

Messi wins FIFA best player

Sports Brief also reported on Messi being crowned the best player at the 2022 FIFA The Best awards ceremony held in Paris, France on February 27.

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The legendary Argentina forward beat his PSG teammate, Mbappe and Real Madrid star and Ballon d'Or winner, Karim Benzema to win the top award.

Messi led Argentina to a third World Cup triumph in Qatar after netting in all the knockout games, including a brace in the final against France.

Benzema reacts to FIFA awards

Real Madrid forward, Benzema has called FIFA liars after Messi was named the best player of 2022 at the awards in Paris, France.

Messi claimed the award for the second time but the most recent Ballon d'Or winner, Benzema feels the wrong person won.

The Frenchman had a stellar campaign with Real Madrid in 2022, winning the La Liga and UEFA Champions League titles.