Argentina and Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has won the Best FIFA Men’s Player Award for 2019 in a grand award ceremony held in Milan, giving him an edge over Portuguese talisman Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi, Ronaldo and Virgil van Dijk were the three finalists for the award and many tipped Van Dijk for the award after he led Liverpool to the UEFA Champions League title but it was the Argentine that got the bigger votes.
With this latest award, Messi has now won the prestigious honour a record six times, one ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo who has been crowned on five occasions.
For the women awards, Megan Rapinoe of USA won her first ever Best FIFA Women’s Player of the Year ahead of Alex Morgan and Lucy Bronze.
Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp won the Best FIFA Men’s coach for his heroics with Liverpool, while Jill Ellis of USA scooped the women’s version of the award.
FIFA FIFPRO WORLD 11
Alisson Becker (BRA) – Liverpool
Matthijs de Ligt (NED) – Ajax / Juventus
Sergio Ramos (ESP) – Real Madrid
Virgil van Dijk (NED) – Liverpool
Marcelo (BRA) – Real Madrid
Luka Modric (CRO) – Real Madrid
Frenkie de Jong (NED) – Ajax/Barcelona
Eden Hazard (BEL) – Chelsea/ Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) – Juventus
Kylian Mbappe (FRA) – Paris Saint-Germain
Lionel Messi (ARG) – Barcelona
FIFPro WOMEN’S WORLD XI
Sari van Veenendaal (NED) – Arsenal / Atletico Madrid
Lucy Bronze (ENG) – Olympique Lyonnais
Wendie Renard (FRA) – Olympique Lyonnais
Nilla Fischer (SWE) – VfL Wolfsburg / Linkopings
Kelley O’Hara (USA) – Utah Royals
Amandine Henry (FRA) – Olympique Lyonnais
Julie Ertz (USA) – Chicago Red Stars
Rose Lavelle (USA) – Washington Spirit
Megan Rapinoe (USA) – Reign FC
Marta (BRA) – Orlando Pride
Alex Morgan (USA) – Orlando Pride
By Chineze Ogugua