Fans Descend on Kolo Muani After Lionel Messi Wins FIFA the Best Award

• PSG star Lionel Messi has won the 2022 FIFA Best Player award
• The 35-year-old has won the gong for the second time in his career
• Footie fans on social media have blamed Kolo Muani for Messi's FIFA the Best win

Football fans appear to blame France forward Kolo Muani after Lionel Messi was named the best player in the world for 2022 by FIFA.

Messi was named FIFA Best Men's Player for the second time since 2019, beating off competition from Real Madrid superstar Karim Benzema and Paris Saint-Germain sensation Kylian Mbappe.

The Argentine phenomenon notched 17 goals and provided 18 assists in 41 appearances last year, winning the World Cup, Finalissima, Ligue 1 and the Trophee des Champions.

And soon after the award was handed out to Messi on Monday night, football fans on social media descended heavily on Muani, blaming him for Messi's latest individual award triumph.

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The Frankfurt forward failed to take a last-minute chance which would have won his France the 2022 World Cup deep in extra-time.

Muani's big chance came in the 120th minute to grab a late win for France at the Lusail Stadium, after coming up one-on-one against Argentina goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez.

However, the Aston Villa shot stopper spread himself in epic fashion to deny the Eintracht Frankfurt striker.

Martinez would go ahead and save Argentina in the penalty shootout by keeping out Kingsley Coman's effort while causing Tchouameni to miss the target with his antics on the line.

Argentina's victory in Qatar was key to Messi's FIFA the Best win on Monday night.

Social media reactions

@coolest_evans tweeted: "None of these would have happened if Kolo Muani had passed this ball. I blame him for everything."

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@vectorbwoy tweeted: "I blame Kolo Muani for all this, like how Martinez go win beat keeper. Person wey Dey concede for Aston Villa like eno geh head."

@UgoOsinobi posted: “I no blame una. Na Kolo-Muani cause all this rubbish”.

@the_marcoli_boy said: "I blame Kolo Muani for all this"

@CFC_Janty posted: "Kolo Muani will pay for his sins"

@_yawwjunior tweeted: "Kolo Muani you have blood on your hands"

Benzema jabs FIFA

Sports Brief earlier reported that Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema has described FIFA as liars after Lionel Messi was named the 2022 best player at the awards in Paris, France.

Messi beat Benzema and French teammate Kylian Mbappe to win the FIFA best player award for the second time, Sports Brief earlier reported.

Ballon d'Or winner, Benzema feels the accolade was given to the wrong person after his stellar campaign with Real Madrid in 2022. The Frenchman won La Liga and the UEFA Champions League as well as finishing the year as top scorer.