Messi, Rapinoe stars of night

Milan, September 24

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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. Juventus’ forward Cristiano Ronaldo had also been shortlisted for the award, but did not attend the ceremony as he lost out to his rival in the famous La Scala opera house.

Both Messi, 32, and Van Dijk, 28, are now in the running for the coveted Ballon d’Or which will be announced on December 2.

Rapinoe beat fellow World Cup winner Alex Morgan and England’s Lucy Bronze to the women’s title, with US coach Jill Ellis winning women’s coaching award. The 34-year-old Rapinoe 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.

Messi was top scorer in the Champions League last season with 12 goals before Barcelona were dumped out by Liverpool in the semifinals. The Argentine also won the European Golden Shoe after scoring 36 goals, won La Liga title with Barcelona and helped Argentina to bronze at 2019 Copa America.

Van Dijk had been bidding to become just the second defender — after Italian Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 — to be recognised by FIFA as the world’s best player. And he missed out on completing a treble for Liverpool with manager Jurgen Klopp winning the men’s coach of the year award and Alisson Becker the goalkeeper prize.

Two-time women’s World Cup-winning coach Ellis beat Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman, runners-up in France 2019, and England’s Phil Neville for the award.

“The World Cup really was a showcase, the world fell even more in love with the game,” said 53-year-old Ellis, who will step down from the team in October.

Romanian-born Hungarian forward Daniel Zsori won the FIFA Puskas Award for the best goal, beating strikes from Messi and Juan Fernando Quintero. The 18-year-old forward, on his debut, scored a spectacular overhead kick to win the game for his side Debrecen against Ferencvaros in stoppage time. — AFP

FIFA’S BEST

Best Men’s player

Lionel Messi 

(Argentina, Barcelona)

Finalists

Cristiano Ronaldo 

(Portugal, Juventus)

Virgil van Dijk 

(Netherlands, Liverpool)

Best women’s player

Megan Rapinoe 

(USA, Reign FC)

Finalists

Lucy Bronze (England, Olympique Lyonnais)

Alex Morgan 

(USA, Orlando Pride)

Best men’s coach

Juergen Klopp (Liverpool)

Finalists

Pep Guardiola 

(Manchester City)

Mauricio Pochettino 

(Tottenham Hotspur)

Best women’s coach

Jill Ellis (USA)

Finalists

Phil Neville (England)

Sarina Wiegman 

(Netherlands)

Best men’s Goalkeeper

Alisson (Brazil, Liverpool)

Finalists

Ederson 

(Brazil, Manchester City)

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (Germany, Barcelona)

Best women’s ’keeper

Sari van Veenendaal (Netherlands, Atletico)

Finalists

Christiane Endler (Chile, Paris Saint-Germain)

Hedvig Lindahl 

(Sweden, Wolfsburg)

13th consecutive time Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were picked by their colleagues worldwide in the World 11 — a record. Sergio Ramos is third on the all-time list, making his 10th appearance and surpassing Andres Iniesta

MEN’S WORLD 11 

Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands, Ajax/currently Juventus), Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid), Eden Hazard (Belgium, Chelsea/currently Real Madrid), Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands, Ajax/currently Barcelona), Luka Modric (Croatia, Real Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (France, Paris Saint-Germain), Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo

WOMEN’S WORLD 11 

Sari van Veenendaal, Lucy Bronze, Nilla Fischer (Sweden, VfL Wolfsburg/currently Linkopings), Kelley O’Hara (USA, Utah Royals), Wendie Renard (France, Olympique Lyonnais), Julie Ertz (USA, Chicago Red Stars), Amandine Henry (France, Olympique Lyonnais), Rose Lavelle (USA, Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Marta Vieria (Brazil, Orlando Pride)

Klopp inspired to make charity pledge

London: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed that the emotional high of his side’s Champions League triumph inspired him to join the Common Goal charity. Klopp will join a host of star names from the world of football, including Manchester United’s Juan Mata and FIFA women’s player of the year Megan Rapinoe, by donating one percent of his salary to aid the work of charities across the world. “We should not forget what it was like when we had real problems,” said Klopp. “This bubble we live in is not the real world. I am sorry, but anything that happens on a football pitch is not a real problem. There should be a bigger purpose to this game than revenue and trophies, no? Just think what we could accomplish if we all came together and gave one percent of what we earn to make a positive difference in the world. Maybe I am a crazy old dreamer.” AFP