The Best FIFA Football Awards: Virgil Van Dijk To Edge Past Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo?

This could be the second consecutive year, where we could see the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo hegemony be broken, as Virgil van Dijk could lift The Best FIFA Men's Player award. The Netherlands and Liverpool defender is the favourite to receive the prestigious award due to his dominating performances for both club and country. The winner will be announced in the official gala ceremony of The Best FIFA Football Awards in Italy's famous opera house La Scala.

The ceremony will start at 12:00 AM IST, September 24.

(Football News)

The trio were arguably the best players since last year. Van Dijk dominated in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, Messi singlehandedly led Barcelona to the LaLiga title and Champions League semifinals. Ronaldo hogged the limelight for Juventus in both domestic and continental matches. 

Van Dijk has had an excellent calendar year with the Dutch national team too, losing in the Nations League finals to none other than Ronaldo's Portugal. Meanwhile, Messi's adventure with Argentina has been bittersweet although he did receive a bronze medal in the recently concluded Copa America.

The Best FIFA Men's Player

Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) – Juventus

Lionel Messi (ARG)– Barcelona

Virgil van Dijk (NED) – Liverpool

World Cup winners USA have Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan in the Best Women's Player list. The duo are joined by England's Lucy Bronze.

The Best FIFA Women’s Player

Lucy Bronze (ENG) – Olympique Lyonnais

Alex Morgan (USA) – Orlando Pride

Megan Rapinoe (USA) – Reign FC

Here are the other categories and nominations:

The Best FIFA Men’s Coach

Pep Guardiola (ESP) – Manchester City

Jurgen Klopp (GER) – Liverpool

Mauricio Pochettino (ARG) – Tottenham Hotspur

The Best FIFA Women’s Coach

Jill Ellis (USA) – USA national team

Phil Neville (ENG) – England national team

Sarina Wiegman (NED) – Netherlands national team

ALSO READ: Will Iran Allow Women To Watch Football Matches In Stadiums? Here's What FIFA Boss Gianni Infantino Was Told By The Regime

FIFA Fan Award

Silvia Grecco (BRA)

Netherlands Fans at the Women’s World Cup (NED)

Justo Sánchez (URU)

The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper

Alisson (BRA) - Liverpool

Ederson (BRA) – Manchester City

Marc-André ter Stegen (GER) – FC Barcelona

The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper

Christiane Endler (CHI) – Paris Saint-Germain

Hedvig Lindahl (SWE) – Chelsea / Wolfsburg

Sari van Veenendaal (NED) – Arsenal / Atletico Madrid

FIFA Puskás Award

Lionel Messi (ARG) - Real Betis v FC Barcelona [La Liga] (17 March 2019)

Juan Fernando Quintero (COL) - River Plate v Racing Club [Argentinian Superliga] (10 February 2019)

Dániel Zsóri (HUN) - Debrecen FC v Ferencváros TC [Nemzeti Bajnoskag I] (16 February 2019)

How will the winners be announced?

The men's and women's player, coach awards will be decided via voting by national team captains, coaches, fans. The winners will be announced during the ceremony. The three Puskas award finalists selected by the FIFA.com users will be put up for a vote among FIFA Legends, who will decide the award winner. The winner of the best goalkeeper award will be selected by a panel of experts chosen by FIFA, comprised of former goalkeepers and strikers.