By Harry Awurumibe, Head, Abuja Bureau
The United States’ duo of Coach Jill Ellis and co-captain, Megan Rapinoe this evening in Milan, Italy won the prestigious Best FIFA Women’s Coach and the FIFA Best Female Player Awards.
Team USA veteran midfielder, Kelly O’Hara; goalpoacher, Alex Morgan, defence ace Joy Lavelle and Rapinoe also made the list of the 2019 FIFA Women’s Best XI.
Others in the list are Netherlands goalie-Van Veenendaal; England poster girl,Lucy Bronze and Brazil superstar, Marta as well as France duo of Amandin Henry and Ave Renard
The FIFA Women’s Best XI as confirmed are: Van Veenendaal, Lucy Bronze, Fischer, O’Hara, Renard, Ertz, Henry, Lavelle, Marta, Morgan, Rapinoe.
Meanwhile, FC Barcelona and Argentine star, Lionel Messi carted home the 2019 FIFA Best Men’s Player Award and also made the FIFA Men’s Best XI.
Liverpool’s Alisson Becker won the FIFA Men’s Best Goalkeeper even as Atletico Madrid’s Sari van Veenendaal won the Award for Best women’s goalkeeper.
Also, Marcelo Bielsa won aFairPlay Award for allowing Aston Villa to score after Leeds United scored a goal when Aston Villa thought play was stopping.
Silvia Grecco won the Fan Award. She goes to extraordinary lengths to help her blind son enjoy Palmeiras games.
Liverpool’s coach, Jurgen Klopp was named as the Best Coach. He announced during his speech that he is joining Common Goal.
The Puskas was awarded to Daniel Zsori of Fehervar.
