Fifa Best Awards LIVE: Latest updates and results as Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmati scoop main awards
Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmati picked up the main awards in London with the Lionesses also picking up several awards
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Your support makes all the difference.Argentine Lionel Messi retained the Fifa men's player of the year trophy on Monday, beating Manchester City's treble-winning Norwegian striker Erling Haaland and France's Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe to the award.
Spain's 2023 World Cup winner Aitana Bonmati was voted the best women's player of the year.
Messi, who also secured the men's award in 2022 after guiding Argentina to World Cup victory, clinched the Ligue 1 title with PSG alongside Mbappe following that success, before moving to Major League Soccer team Inter Miami. The 36-year-old, voted the best player by national teams coaches, captains, journalists and fans, helped Inter Miami win the 2023 Leagues Cup -- a competition between MLS and Mexico's Liga MX sides -- scoring 10 goals. Messi was not present to collect the trophy.
The award period for the men's prize ran from Dec. 19, 2022 to Aug. 20, 2023, and started the day after the World Cup final in Qatar. Haaland, who helped City clinch a treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League titles by scoring 52 goals in 53 matches across all competitions in the 2022-23 season, finished second in the voting. The 23-year-old had the same points as Messi but lost out by having fewer first-place votes from national team captains.
City's Pep Guardiola won the Best Men's Coach award. The Spaniard, who before winning the treble with City last term had achieved the same feat at Barcelona in 2008-09, dedicated his award to fellow nominees Simone Inzaghi and Luciano Spalletti.
Sarina Wiegman claimed the Best Women's coach prize after leading England to the World Cup final where they lost 1-0 to Spain. Seven of her Lionesses were included in the Women's World XI, including Mary Earps, who also took the Best Women's Goalkeeper Award. (Reporting by Reuters)
Relive all the action from London and the reaction to the awards below:
Fifa best awards
Here is the full report from the awards:
Messi has been named Fifa’s best men’s player after moving from Paris Saint-Germain to Inter Miami and leading the David Beckham-owned team to a little-known Leagues Cup title — all while single-handedly elevating soccer’s relevance in the United States.
The 36-year-old Argentina star on Monday was selected over Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland — the same pair he beat for his eighth Ballon d’Or award last October.
Messi wins big at Fifa best awards, with Earps and Wiegman also recognised
Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmati were awarded best men’s and women’s player awards
Fifa best awards
Here are some photos of the event:
Fifa best awards
That’s all from the awards, we will be bringing you some more photos and any other information as it comes through.
Fifa best awards
“A couple of weeks ago when 2023 came to an end I was nostalgic because it’s been an exceptional and unique year, starting out 2024 collecting this award is something that I am very proud of but I owe this to the teams that I have played with. I owe it to the great season that we played.
Bonmati thanks her teammates, her family and friends and signs off with: “I’m proud of being a group and a generation of women who are changing the world and the game.”
Fifa best awards
Now time for the final award of the night, the Best Women’s Player, and the three shortlisted players are Aitana Bonmati, Linda Caicedo, and Jenni Hermoso
Fifa best awards
Starting from next year there will be a new Marta award to recognise the best goal scored in the women’s game in recognition of her contribution to the sportr.
Fifa best awards
Marta will win an award presented by the winner of the first women’s World Cup and the late Pele’s wife for her services to the sport.
Fifa best awards
Before the big women’s award there is time to look back at the amazing career of Marta, who retired this year.
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