FIFA Awards Full List: Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmati win best player awards

Listen to Story Argentina superstar Lionel Messi won the Best FIFA Men's Player Award for the 3rd time in the last 4 years, edging past Norwegian striker Erling Haaland in a closely contested race. Spain and Barcelona striker Aitana Bonmati walked away with the Best FIFA Women's Player Award at The Best FIFA Awards, a star studded ceremony in London.

coach Pep Guardiola won the Best Men's Manager of 2023 award while England coach Sarina Wiegman claimed the women's best coach award for a record extending fourth time. Guardiola beat Inter Milan's Simone Inzaghi and and Napoli's Luciano Spalletti to the honour. Manchester City stopper Ederson won the Best Men's Goalkeeper award while Mary Earps, the Manchester United and England No.

1, won the Women's award in the ceremony in London. for his exploits in leading the Argentina men's team to World Cup glory in Qatar. Messi was once again in the race after having won the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint Germain and his role in helping Inter Miami wn the Leagues Cup in his inaugural season in Major League Soccer.

Messi edged past Erling Haaland, who scored 52 goals in all competitions in a treble winning season for Manchester City and his former teammate Kylian Mbappe for the honour. Messi also won the 2019 Best FIFA Men's Player award and was recognised by FIFA as the leading player in the men's game on five occasions prior to that 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015 making this his eighth individual award in total.

Messi and Haaland were tied on 48 points each in the FIFA rating system for the Award. However, the Argentina captain won the Award, thanks to more votes from national team captains. The best awards are decided after votes from national team captains, coaches, journalists and fans are counted. India captain Sunil Chhetri, Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah were among the many who voted for Messi.

The Argentina skipper himself voted for Haaland ahead of Mbappe and his teammate Julian Alvarez. According to the FIFA rules, If finalists were tied on points, the individual with the most first choice selections from their own group of voters (Captains in this case) would be declared the winner. Meanwhile, Barcelona star Aitana Bonmati won the Best Women's Player Award for 2023 after a dream season at the club and international level.

The coveted award is yet another richly deserved reward for the 25 year old midfielder, who in 2023 inspired Spain to their maiden world title and Barcelona to a domestic and European treble. “I would like to congratulate all the nominees. And also to say that I’m proud of being part of a powerful generation of women who are changing the rules of the game and the world," Aitana Bonmati said in a powerful victory speech in London.

"A couple of weeks ago, when 2023 came to end, I was nostalgic because it was an exceptional and unique year that I will remember for the rest of my life. Starting out 2024 by collecting this award is incredible. But as I’ve said before, I owe it to the teams I played in: Barçelona, the national team.

I owe it to the seasons we had," she added. Second: Erling Haaland (48 points) Third: Kylian Mbappe (35 points) Second: Linda Caicedo (40 points) Third: Jenni Hermoso (36 points) Second: Thibaut Courtois (20 points) Third: Yassine Bounou (16 points)\\ Second: Catalina Coll (14 points) Third: Mackenzie Arnold (12 points) Second: Luciano Spalletti (18 points) Third: Simone Inzaghi (11 points) Second: Emma Hayes (18 points) Third: Jonatan Giraldez (14 points) Guilherme Madruga Brazil national team..