Lionel Messi again and again: The Argentine world champion was voted world footballer of the year despite his departure from the big sports stage. Aitana Bonmatí (25), who celebrated the World Cup title with Spain in the summer, was named the best female footballer in London on Monday. Haaland coach Pep Guardiola was honored as the best coach, and the best coach was the Dutchwoman Sarina Wiegman, who led the English national team to the World Cup final in the summer.
The 36-year-old Messi was honored in his absence on Monday evening in London; he surprisingly beat goal guarantor Erling Haaland (23) from triple winner Manchester City and Kylian Mbappé (25) from Paris Saint-Germain. Messi, who moved to Inter Miami in the USA in the summer, was able to celebrate his eighth FIFA award – there was rather restrained applause in the Hammersmith Apollo.
German professionals played no role at the celebratory gala. DFB captain Ilkay Gündogan, Marc-André ter Stegen and Ann-Kathrin Berger made it onto the shortlist in the categories of best player, best goalkeeper and best goalkeeper, but did not make it to the final selection.
Remembering Beckenbauer, Charlton and Zagallo
For a moment between the award ceremonies, the gala was also dedicated to Franz Beckenbauer. “Franz was by far the best and most important player in the history of German football,” said long-time companion Paul Breitner, visibly moved in the hall. “He was an extraordinary person.” It was his “great honor and a pleasure” to play in a team with Beckenbauer. The two other icons who died recently, the Englishman Sir Bobby Charlton and the Brazilian Mário Zagallo, were also remembered.
Haaland certainly deserved the award, officially dubbed “The Best,” after his outstanding year with City. The former Dortmund player scored 44 goals in 54 games across all competitions – and not only won the treble of the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup, but also the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
Nevertheless, it was Messi again, which calls into question the sporting value of the award, which has been in competition with the Ballon d’Or again for a few years. Messi won this last year because the World Cup title in Qatar in 2022 was also part of the assessment period. At club level, the 36-year-old has long since arrived on the periphery of world football. Coaches, players, journalists – and the fans, the majority of whom still carry Messi in their hearts, are eligible to vote.
Bonmatí was the favorite after her outstanding year with the World Cup title in the summer as well as the championship and Champions League triumph with Barça. At the final round, the Spaniard was already celebrated as the best player of the tournament and in the autumn she was awarded the Ballon d’Or.
Guardiola won the election for the first time in 2011, when he was still coach of FC Barcelona. “Thank you very much,” said the former FC Bayern coach on stage. “I want to share this trophy with Simone and Luciano. I want to share this trophy with Manchester.” At the end of his speech, the former professional also thanked his family, who accompanied him to the English metropolis.
Wiegman had already won the FIFA election in 2017, 2020 and 2022. “Some of you are probably thinking: ‘Here she is again’. I’m sorry,” said the cheerful Dutchwoman.