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
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
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
First up is the men’s award and the three finalists are Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi.
Fifa best awards
Now there’s a musical interlude and afterwards we have just two awards left, the Best Men’s and Best Women’s player awards.
Fifa best awards
Here are some photos of the awards so far:
Fifa best awards
And the winner Hugo Daniel Iniguez, a fan of Argentine club Colon, who was caught on camera bottle-feeding his young son, who he has brought with him to the ceremony and is even carrying him onto the stage draped in his team’s flag.
What a sweet moment, as the young child bursts into tears.
Fifa best awards
Time for the Fifa fan award, the first is a Columbian meeting the team while battling a terminal illness, the second is an Australian woman who dribbled a football over 1,000km to raise money, and the third is an Argentinian fan was shown bottle-feeding his son while taking him to a match.
Fifa best awards
The winner is going to be presented by the great grand-daughter of Puskas, and it is...Guilherme Madruga
Fifa best awards
There were 11 nominated goals including volleys from outside the area, individual moments of skill, backheels and stunning overhead kicks.
Here’s a reminder of the final three:
Julio Enciso has been nominated for his goal against Manchester City during a 1-1 draw between the current European champions and Brighton. He let the ball fly from 25 yards straight into the top corner and was his first at home for the Seagulls.
Guilherme Madruga scored for Botafogo against Novorizontino in the Brazilian Serie B. It was an absolutely stunning overhead kick from outside the area which perfectly looped and dipped into the back of the net just under the crossbar.
Nunos Santos is shortlisted for his goal for Sporting against Boavista. It was a clever improvised backheel-rabong that caught everyone by surprise as it flew into the back of the net.
Fifa best awards
Time for the Puskas award, and there are some crackers in this...
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments