Argentina’s Lionel Messi was voted Best Footballer of the Year on Monday and won the FIFA “The Best” award.
Messi overcame Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, who appeared to be the great candidate to win the trophy.
“As nice as these recognitions are, the main thing is the collective, Enjoying this with my family is something unique. Thank you all very much,” said the captain of Barcelona and the Argentine national team after receiving the award.
Jürgen Klopp, DT of Liverpool, which last season won the Champions League, won the award for Best Coach, beating Pep Guardiola and Argentina’s Mauricio Pochettino.
“I’ve been lucky enough to coach incredible players. This is an individual award, but I represent a lot of people,” said the German paying tribute to his team.
The award for Best Archer went to the Brazilian Alisson, the goalkeeper for Liverpool, European champion and for the Brazil team that won the Copa America.
“I’ve worked very hard, I can’t express my gratitude in words. I have very humble origins but I have struggled to get here,” Alisson said upon receiving the statuette.
The 11 ideal was formed by Alisson; Matthijs De Ligt, Sergio Ramos, Van Dijk, Marcelo; Luca Modric, Frenkie De Jong, Eden Hazard; Kylian Mbappé, Messi and Ronaldo.
The Fair Play award went to Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United. The Argentine coach ordered his players to let themselves be scored a goal after his team scored against Aston Villa in a move that continued despite a rival footballer was on the ground injured.
Hungarian Daniel Zsori won the Puskas award for Best Goal, a beautiful Chilean in a league match, in a third in which he beat Messi and Colombian Juan Fernando Quintero.
