Kathmandu,

December 20,

Lionel Messi has been named the World Sports Star of 2022 by the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.

Sunday’s World Cup final saw the Argentine star, 35, cap a fine tournament in which he scored seven goals and finally won the globe’s top sporting crown for the first time.

The BBC World Sport Star of the Year is selected by a panel to the athlete who has achieved the most notable sporting success on the world stage over the past 12 months.