FIFA Football Awards 2019: Lionel Messi and Megan Rapinoe are the players of the year!

Lionel Messi won the FIFA Men's Player of the Year award with Megan Rapinoe bagging the women's prize to cap a historic year for the United States' World Cup icon. Take a look at all the winners!
Lionel Messi won the FIFA Men's Player of the Year award with Megan Rapinoe bagging the women's prize to cap a historic year for the United States' World Cup icon. Take a look at all the winners! (Photo | AP)
Lionel Messi won the FIFA Men's Player of the Year award with Megan Rapinoe bagging the women's prize to cap a historic year for the United States' World Cup icon. Take a look at all the winners! (Photo | AP)
Updated on
2 min read
The best of the best: Left to right, Argentinian Barcelona player Lionel Messi, United States women's World Cup-winning coach Jill Ellis, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp and United States forward Megan Rapinoe pose after they received the Best FIFA coach award, best FIFA men's, Women's player award during the Best FIFA soccer awards ceremony. (Photo | AP)
The best of the best: Left to right, Argentinian Barcelona player Lionel Messi, United States women's World Cup-winning coach Jill Ellis, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp and United States forward Megan Rapinoe pose after they received the Best FIFA coach award, best FIFA men's, Women's player award during the Best FIFA soccer awards ceremony. (Photo | AP)
It was Lionel Messi's sixth FIFA player of the year award, while Megan Rapinoe won her first at a lavish ceremony at Milan's iconic Teatro alla Scala on 23 September 2019. (Photo | AFP)
It was Lionel Messi's sixth FIFA player of the year award, while Megan Rapinoe won her first at a lavish ceremony at Milan's iconic Teatro alla Scala on 23 September 2019. (Photo | AFP)
Megan Rapinoe (with FIFA president Gianni Infantino) was rewarded at the FIFA Best awards for leading the United States to the women's World Cup title in July 2019. She scored six goals in the tournament, earning her the Golden Boot for the tournament's top scorer and the Golden Ball as the top player. (Photo | AP)
Megan Rapinoe (with FIFA president Gianni Infantino) was rewarded at the FIFA Best awards for leading the United States to the women's World Cup title in July 2019. She scored six goals in the tournament, earning her the Golden Boot for the tournament's top scorer and the Golden Ball as the top player. (Photo | AP)
The outspoken Megan Rapinoe often uses her success as a platform to speak out about issues and the 34-year-old did so again in Milan. 'If we really want to have meaningful change what I think is most inspiring would be if everybody other than Raheem Sterling and (Kalidou) Koulibaly, if they were as outraged about racism as they were, if everybody was as outraged about homophobia as the LGBTQ players, if everybody was as outraged about the lack of equal pay and investment in the women's game other than just women, that would be the most inspiring thing to me.' (Photo | AP)
The outspoken Megan Rapinoe often uses her success as a platform to speak out about issues and the 34-year-old did so again in Milan. 'If we really want to have meaningful change what I think is most inspiring would be if everybody other than Raheem Sterling and (Kalidou) Koulibaly, if they were as outraged about racism as they were, if everybody was as outraged about homophobia as the LGBTQ players, if everybody was as outraged about the lack of equal pay and investment in the women's game other than just women, that would be the most inspiring thing to me.' (Photo | AP)
Megan Rapinoe (with team-mate Alex Morgan, on left) also became the face of the World Cup tournament for her outspoken views on US president Donald Trump. (Photo | AP)
Megan Rapinoe (with team-mate Alex Morgan, on left) also became the face of the World Cup tournament for her outspoken views on US president Donald Trump. (Photo | AP)
Barcelona striker Lionel 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, 32, and Van Dijk, 28, are now in the running for the coveted Ballon d'Or which will be announced on December 2. (Photo | AP)
Barcelona striker Lionel 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, 32, and Van Dijk, 28, are now in the running for the coveted Ballon d'Or which will be announced on December 2. (Photo | AP)
Lionel Messi was top scorer in the Champions League last season with 12 goals before Barcelona were dumped out by Liverpool in the semi-finals, Barca throwing away a three-goal first-leg lead with a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Anfield. (Photo | AP)
Lionel Messi was top scorer in the Champions League last season with 12 goals before Barcelona were dumped out by Liverpool in the semi-finals, Barca throwing away a three-goal first-leg lead with a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Anfield. (Photo | AP)
Messi's award moved the Barcelona and Argentina forward one ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Juventus forward did not attend the ceremony despite being among the three finalists. 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. (Photo | AP)
Messi's award moved the Barcelona and Argentina forward one ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Juventus forward did not attend the ceremony despite being among the three finalists. 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. (Photo | AP)
Two-time women's World Cup-winning coach Jill Ellis (on left), beat Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman, runner-up in France 2019, and England's Phil Neville for the Best FIFA coach award. Van Dijk's club manager Jürgen Klopp (on right) was voted coach of the year after steering Liverpool to the Champions League title in June. (Photo | AP)
Two-time women's World Cup-winning coach Jill Ellis (on left), beat Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman, runner-up in France 2019, and England's Phil Neville for the Best FIFA coach award. Van Dijk's club manager Jürgen Klopp (on right) was voted coach of the year after steering Liverpool to the Champions League title in June. (Photo | AP)
53-year-old Jill Ellis was hired as coach of the U.S. team in 2014 and led it to eight overall tournament titles, including back-to-back World Cup successes. Over the course of her tenure, the United States lost just seven matches.
53-year-old Jill Ellis was hired as coach of the U.S. team in 2014 and led it to eight overall tournament titles, including back-to-back World Cup successes. Over the course of her tenure, the United States lost just seven matches.
Liverpool's Alisson Becker won the award for best goalkeeper in men's category. Last month he was named as UEFA's Goalkeeper of the Year following his performances in helping the Reds to win the Champions League, while he also picked up the Premier League's Golden Glove award for keeping the most clean sheets in the division. (Photo | AP)
Liverpool's Alisson Becker won the award for best goalkeeper in men's category. Last month he was named as UEFA's Goalkeeper of the Year following his performances in helping the Reds to win the Champions League, while he also picked up the Premier League's Golden Glove award for keeping the most clean sheets in the division. (Photo | AP)
Sari van Veenendaal was honoured with the Best Women's Goalkeeper award. The Netherlands international and Atletico Madrid stopper was named the best goalkeeper during the summer’s World Cup, which saw Netherlands finish third. (Photo | AP)
Sari van Veenendaal was honoured with the Best Women's Goalkeeper award. The Netherlands international and Atletico Madrid stopper was named the best goalkeeper during the summer’s World Cup, which saw Netherlands finish third. (Photo | AP)
Hungary's Daniel Zsori won the 2019 Puskas award at the FIFA The Best ceremony. The 18-year-old won it for his incredible goal against Ferencvaros, beating strikes from Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Juan Fernando Quintero of River Plate. (Photo | AP)
Hungary's Daniel Zsori won the 2019 Puskas award at the FIFA The Best ceremony. The 18-year-old won it for his incredible goal against Ferencvaros, beating strikes from Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Juan Fernando Quintero of River Plate. (Photo | AP)
The winners of FIFA FIFPro Men's World XI: Alisson Becker, Matthijs de Ligt, Sergio Ramos, Virgil van Dijk, Marcelo, Luka Modric, Frenkie de Jong, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Eden Hazard and Cristiano Ronaldo. (Photo | FIFA Twitter)
The winners of FIFA FIFPro Men's World XI: Alisson Becker, Matthijs de Ligt, Sergio Ramos, Virgil van Dijk, Marcelo, Luka Modric, Frenkie de Jong, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Eden Hazard and Cristiano Ronaldo. (Photo | FIFA Twitter)
The winners of first-ever FIFA FIFPro Women's World XI: Sari van Veenendaal, Lucy Bronze, Wendie Renard, Nilla Fischer, Kelley O'Hara, Julie Ertz, Amandine Henry, Rose Lavelle, Marta, Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan. (Photo | FIFA Twitter)
The winners of first-ever FIFA FIFPro Women's World XI: Sari van Veenendaal, Lucy Bronze, Wendie Renard, Nilla Fischer, Kelley O'Hara, Julie Ertz, Amandine Henry, Rose Lavelle, Marta, Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan. (Photo | FIFA Twitter)
Congratulations, winners! (Photo | AP)
Congratulations, winners! (Photo | AP)

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com