How Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal Voted at the 2022 FIFA the Best Awards

• Cristiano Ronaldo was conspicously missing at the 2022 FIFA The Best Awards
• In his absence, rival Lionel Messi won his seventh FIFA The Best prize
• The award recognized the most outstanding player in the men's game from 8 August 2021 to 18 December 2022

Lionel Messi has been bestowed with the honour of the Best Men's Player after a landmark year, becoming the third player to receive the accolade twice, after Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski.

The Argentina and Paris St Germain playmaker won the prize ahead of finalists Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema, winning the coveted award for a record-extending seventh time.

The award, given to the most exceptional performer in the men's game, was voted for by national team coaches, captains, expert journalists, and supporters across the globe.

According to FIFA, Messi polled 52 points, Mbappe came in second with 44, while France and Real Madrid's Karim Benzema got 34 points.

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Considering the long-standing sporting rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the Iberian country was least expected to throw their weight behind the Argentine genius.

How did Portugal vote?

Sports Brief takes a look at how Portugal voted, especially with Cristiano Ronaldo failing to make the final shortlist.

Roberto Martinez - Portugal coach

Martínez, stepped down from his role as Belgium manager after their World Cup group stage exit, but received appointment as Portugal's new boss after the Mundial.

Hence the onus fell on him to vote for the Best Men's footballer for 2022 at the gala held in Paris, France.

The 49-year-old interestingly threw away the rivalry between Ronaldo, perhaps Portugal's greatest footballer in history and Leo Messi away to vote for the PSG playmaker.

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Martinez had Messi as his first choice, with Kevin De Bruyne and Kylian Mbappe occupying his second and third options, per 90 Min.

Pepe - Portugal captain

Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira, simply known as Pepe, was the players' delegate to choose for Portugal.

Acting as Ronaldo's deputy, Pepe naturally omitted Leo Messi from his preferred choice of winners.

Instead, selecting Messi's clubmate Kylian Mbappe, former Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric and current Ballon d'Or holder Karim Benzema in that order.

Pepe, aged 40, is regarded as one of the greatest defenders of his generation and is still performing at FC Porto.

Vítor Hugo dos Santos Serpa - expert journalist

The revered Portuguese sports journalist had the singular honour to cast his vote on behalf of the country's media.

Vítor, just like Roberto Martinez, did not cast his votes based on patriotism or affection for Cristiano Ronaldo.

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The director of popular sports newspaper A Bola, chose Messi, Benzema and Mbappe in tha order for his vote.

Who did Messi vote for?

In a related article, Sports Brief reported that Lionel Messi voted for Neymar Junior ahead of Kylian Mbappe to win the Best FIFA Men's Player Award.

Messi was announced as the winner on Monday for the second time, coming in ahead of his PSG teammate Mbappe and Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema.

According to FIFA, the Argentine genius did not vote for any of his international teammates to win the award.