LAUSANNE, December 30, 2022 – The Argentina Men’s National Football Team has been named AIPS Team of the Year for the 2022 edition. This results from a poll by the International Sports Press Association (AIPS), where a panel of 420 journalists from 113 countries voted for the Champions of 2022.

After having won the FIFA World Cup for the third time in their history, La Selección concluded an unforgettable 2022 which brought two international trophies to one of the richest palmarés in football. They scooped first place with a total amount of 1399 votes collected. Second place has been reached by the Morocco Men’s Football Team with 381 votes, with the French Men’s Football Team in third place with 252 votes.

THE BEST TEAM OF THE YEAR For the third time in their history Argentina National Team lifted the World Cup trophy, after historic wins in 1978 in Argentina, 1986 in Mexico, and this year in Doha, Qatar. A remarkable campaign for team captain Lionel Messi and his teammates, who did not start well on their adventure in Qatar after a shocking loss on Day 1 of the group stage against Saudi Arabia (2-1 the final score).

Two dramatic wins against Mexico on Day 2 (2-0) and against Poland on Day 3 (2-0) ensured Lionel Scaloni and his men a ticket to the Round of 16 stages, which they went through thanks to a victory against Australia (2-1). An intense quarter-final match against The Netherlands saw Argentina win only after the penalty kicks; in the semifinals, La Selección won against Croatia after a convincing 3-0 in the regular 90 minutes.

The final match of the 2022 World Cup at Lusail Stadium against France is one to be remembered: After a thrilling 3-3 in the regular 90 minutes, the lottery of penalties declared Argentina winner of the tournament after a match full of emotions, world-class plays by champions to face each other in the most important stage that football can offer.

A historic 2022 for La Selección which scooped two international trophies in 2022, as previously mentioned: Not only the World Cup but also the COMEMBOL-UEFA Cup of Nation (the so-called “Finalissima”) against Italy on June 1, 2022, at Wembley Stadium in London, England (3-0 the final score).

AIPS Best Teams of 2022 (votes and percentages):

1. ARGENTINA MEN’S FOOTBALL TEAM (Football, Argentina) – 1399 votes (37,01%)

2. MOROCCO MEN’S FOOTBALL TEAM (Football, Morocco) – 381 votes (10,08%)

3. FRANCE MEN’S FOOTBALL TEAM (Football, France) – 252 votes (6,67%)

4. REAL MADRID CF (Football, Spain) – 251 votes (6,64%)

5. CROATIA MEN’S FOOTBALL TEAM (Football, Croatia) – 182 votes (4,81%)

6. RED BULL BRACING TEAM (Formula 1, Austria) – 179 votes (4,74%)

7. ENGLAND WOMEN’S FOOTBALL TEAM (Football, UK) – 168 votes (4,44%)

8. ITALY MEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM (Volleyball, Italy) – 166 votes (4,39%)

9. FINLAND MEN’S ICE HOCKEY TEAM (Ice Hockey, Finland) – 128 votes (3,39%)

10. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (Basketball, USA) – 125 votes (3,31%)

11. USA ATHLETICS TEAM (Athletics, USA) – 100 votes (2,65%)

12. FC BAYERN MUNICH (Football, Germany) – 78 votes (2,06%)

13. BRAZIL MEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM (Volleyball, Brazil) – 73 votes (1,93%)

14. USA WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS TEAM (Gymnastics, USA) – 70 votes (1,85%)

15. PARIS SAINT GERMAIN FC (Football, France) – 54 votes (1,43%)

16. CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB (Football, UK) – 42 votes (1,11%)

17. BRAZIL WOMEN’S FOOTBALL TEAM (Football, Brazil) – 41 votes (1,08%)

18. SPAIN MEN’S WATERPOLO TEAM (Waterpolo, Spain) – 38 votes (1,01%)

19. CHINA MIXED TEAM AERIALS (Aerial Skiing, China) – 29 votes (0,77%)

20. WENJING SUI / CONG HAN (Pair Skating, China) – 24 votes (0,63%)
 

AIPS members from the following nations participated in the Best of 2022 poll (countries are listed in alphabetical order):
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, The Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Yemen.

AIPS Media