Lionel Messi has arrived in Milan ahead of FIFA’s Best Player awards as he prepares to do battle for the Men’s Player of the Year prize.
Messi has been nominated for the award alongside Virgil van Dijkand Cristiano Ronaldo after another stunning year for Barcelona.
Van Dijk was joined in Milan by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Reds goalkeeper Alisson, who are both also in the running for individual prizes.
Lionel Messi has been nominated for FIFA’s Men’s Player of the Year award after stunning year
Messi will do battle with Virgil van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo for the prize at Milan ceremony
Van Dijk was joined in Milan by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Reds goalkeeper Alisson
Alisson has been nominated for FIFA’s Goalkeeper of the Year award after a fine 18/19 season
Klopp has been nominated for the Coach of the Year award but faces competition from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Alisson enjoyed a fine season for Liverpool which ended in Liverpool winning the Champions League and is one of three nominees for the Goalkeeper of the Year gong, which is also contested by Ederson and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Meanwhile, Megan Rapinoe, who lifted the women’s World Cup as USA captain, was another big name in attendance and she will be hopeful of winning the Women’s Player of the Year gong.
Megan Rapinoe is the favourite to win FIFA’s Women’s Player of the Year award in Milan
Rapinoe’s USA team-mate, Alex Morgan, is also in the running for the lead female prize
Rapinoe scored six goals at this summer’s tournament and will battle it out with England’s Lucy Bronze and USA team-mate Alex Morgan for the top female prize.
Phil Neville also made the trip to Milan in the hope of scooping FIFA’s Women’s Coach of the Year award, though he faces stiff competition from USWNT coach Jill Ellis and Netherlands boss Sarina Wiegman.
Neville guided England to the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup, while Ellis lifted the trophy after defeating the Wiegman’s Netherlands team 2-0 in the final.
England Women’s boss Phil Neville has been nominated for Women’s Coach of the Year
source:dailymail
