FIFA Best Awards LIVE: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Virgil van Dijk eyeing prize (Image: Getty)
FIFA Best Awards – LIVE!
- Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Virgil van Dijk eye top award
- Lucy Bronze, Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe in contention for gong
- 11 awards to be handed out throughout the night
- World XI to be announced – but leaks have appeared online
The show is about to get on the road at Teatro alla Scala…
FIFA Best Awards LIVE: The stage is set at Teatro alla Scala (Image: Getty)
Who were last year’s big winners?
Men’s Player: Luka Modric
Women’s Player: Marta
Men’s Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois
Men’s Coach: Didier Deschamps
Women’s Coach: Reynald Pedros
FIFA Best Awards LIVE: Lionel Messi is looking sharp in Milan (Image: Getty)
Men’s World XI ‘leaked’
Some people just want to watch the world burn. Marca have ‘leaked’ the apparent Men’s World XI hours before we’ll find out for real.
‘Leaked’ Men’s World XI: Alisson; Ramos, De Ligt, Van Dijk, Marcelo; Modric, De Jong, Hazard; Mbappe, Messi, Ronaldo.
Whatever happened to good, old-fashioned waiting-til-it’s-announced fun?
For more on the leak, read here.
FIFA Best Awards LIVE: Marca leaked the Men’s World XI (Image: Getty)
How does the voting system work?
Fans were able to vote on the Men’s Player, Women’s Player, Men’s Coach and Women’s Coach awards during the summer. If not, you’ve missed your chance – this is no ITV talent show.
Fans’ suibmissions count for 25 per cent of the final vote, with FIFA’s selection committee finalising the decisions.
The remaining 75 per cent are distributed evenly between national coaches of FIFA Member Associations, their team captains as well as a select group of football journalists from those countries.
The selection panel who shortlist the initial Best Men’s Player and Best Men’s Coach awards includes many ex-players. Last year, it included Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Kaka, Fabio Capello and Ronaldo Nazario.
FIFA Best Awards LIVE: Jose Mourinho just could not stay away (Image: Getty)
English representation
En-ger-land, En-ger-land. You know the drill. English people, in general, don’t do well with these sort of events – accepting praise, dressing up all smartly, being good at stuff – it’s not us.
There are a few English names on shortlists, though, so who can bring (The Best) Football (Awards) home?
England full-back Lucy Bronze is one of three names up for Best Women’s Player after her part in England’s World Cup journey to the semi-finals.
Her manager, Phil Neville, can take home Best Women’s Coach, also, for his rejuvenation of the side.
In terms of the World XI, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kyle Walker, Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane could very much squeeze their way in, while Milly Bright, Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Steph Houghton, Keira Walsh, Nikita Parris and Ellen White can make the Women’s equivalent.
FIFA Best Awards LIVE: Phil Neville is up for Women’s Coach (Image: Getty)
What awards are up for grabs?
Men’s Player, Women’s Player, Men’s Coach, Women’s Coach, Men’s Goalkeeper, Women’s Goalkeeper, Puskas Award, Fan Award, Fair Play (why?), Men’s World XI and Women’s World XI.
It’s a healthy list of accolades and to see who is nominated for each category, click here.
Hosting tonight’s action on stage will be AC Milan legend and underwhelming pundit Ruud Gullit and Italian commentator Ilaria D’Amico.
Both “world-class hosts”, according to FIFA. Hopefully not much cheesy humour on a morbid crowd, as is par for the course at these dos.
FIFA Best Awards LIVE: Jurgen Klopp arrives in typically relaxed attire (Image: FIFA TV)
Jurgen Klopp’s advice from Virgil van Dijk
Jurgen Klopp is in the running for the Best Men’s Coach award after leading Liverpool to the European Cup last season.
His talisman Virgil van Dijk could also scoop the top individual gong – and the Dutchman had some advice for him ahead of the event.
“We are not yet there, we are not at the Oscars and I have to thank my mum and my family and my coaches, they know how much I appreciate what they do,” Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com.
“If something would happen tonight and if somebody asked me, then I have to mention them because without them I would not be here, that’s clear. They know that.
“Yes, we have a special team at Melwood and we try everything to be as successful as possible. Obviously it worked somehow but there’s still so much to do.
“It’s always really difficult to be here and think about what happened because half of the brain is already on Wednesday, to be honest, so that makes it obviously a bit tricky. But all good. Virg told me I have to wear a tuxedo, so I tried to find one. Then we will see what happens.”
Unfortunately, Klopp did not listen to his player’s advice, and is sporting a jumper and jeans.
GOOD EVENING, BUONA SERATA
And welcome to live coverage of, for its full name, The Best FIFA Football Awards. (With a TM, too).
The finest footballers from around the world are in Milan for the awards show which will dish out 11 gongs, from The Best Men’s Player to The Best Women’s Goalkeeper, and nine things in between.
The gala runs from 6.30pm to 9pm and is the fourth consecutive year this awards format has taken place, after the Ballon d’Or deviated back to France Football’s control.