Messi wins FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award, Klopp wins Best Coach

 

Lionel Messi won the FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award on Monday with Megan Rapinoe bagging the women’s prize to cap a historic year for the United States’ World Cup icon.

Barcelona striker Messi’s victory in Milan was a surprise as he edged out Virgil Van Dijk, who won the UEFA player’s award last month after helping Liverpool to the Champions League last season.

Both Messi and Van Dijk are now in the running for the coveted Ballon d’Or which will be announced on December 2.

Juventus’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo had also been shortlisted for the award.

Rapinoe beat fellow World Cup winner Alex Morgan and England’s Lucy Bronze to the women’s title.

The 34-year-old won the Golden Boot for being top scorer and the Golden Ball for the best player at the World Cup, and also became the face of the tournament for her outspoken views on US president Donald Trump.

Full list of awardees below:

The Best FIFA Men’s Player

Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina)

The Best FIFA Women’s Player

Megan Rapinoe (Reign FC/USA)

The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper

Alisson Becker (Liverpool/Brazil)

The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper

Sari van Veenendaal (Netherlands/Arsenal/Atlético Madrid)

The Best FIFA Men’s Coach

Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool)

The Best FIFA Women’s Coach

Jill Ellis (USA

FIFA Puskás Award

Daniel Zsori (Hungary)

FIFA Fan Award

Silvia Grecco

FIFA Fair Play Award

Marcelo Bielsa and the Leeds United squad