Vinicius Jr. and Aitana bag top awards: The Best FIFA award ceremony, as it happened

Thanks for joining us tonight and before we take our leave, here's a full rundown of the 2024 The Best FIFA Awards: 

The ceremony ends with a little FIFA flavoured teaser of what is coming up in 2025, plenty of focus on the Club World Cup which starts in the USA next summer.

Considering the very limited time in preparation, rehearsal etc, you have to say the ceremony procedure was smooth and slick.

slip of the tongue from the Brazilian naming Jose Angel as the President ... 

The Brazilian also makes a special mention for his former side Flamengo.

Vini scoops The Best

The Brazil and Real Madrid man bags the award.

A mesmerising player who helped Madrid to a UCL win and the Brazilian is on hand to collect his award. 

Vini talks about the hardship he endured on his path to becoming a high profile player.

The Best FIFA Awards 2024 Men's Player is ....

Vinicius Jr.

Now, it's the men's award...

Messi is the current holder.

Gianni will deliver the final award of the evening. 

My money is on Vini.

The Italian is on hand to collect the award in person.

Gotta love Carlo, such a sound and humble coach as he thanks his players and the RM president Florentino Perez. 

Carlo bags The Best Award

Ancelotti is The Best

Next up, best coach award ...

The Best FIFA Awards 2024 Men's Coach will be presented by Wenger with the winner being: Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)

No Mbappe in the XI !!!!

Dibu in goal.... Defenders: Carvajal, Rudiger, Dias, Saliba

Midfield: Bellingham, Kroos, Rodri.

Lamine, Vini, and Haaland up front

Now, we have the FIFA Men's XI

This will be announced by Lothar Matthaus (who is wearing white trainers)

Dibu does it

The focus falls on the keepers...

First up is Buffon to present and the Italian legend confirms that the 2024 winner is: Emi Martinez.

Speaking of.. have you seen his save for Villa vs Forest last weekend ...track it down... amazing! 

So, we continue with the ceremony from Doha.

FIFA Fan Award is next up: the nominees are 

Jose Armando

Craig Ferguson

Guilherme Gandra Moura

Former FC Porto and Portugal defender Pepe confirms that the award goes to young Vasco da Gama fan Gandra Moura.

Next up is the FIFA Fair Play Award.

This will be presented by Bebeto and is won by Brazilian Thiago Maia.

Aitana again, well deserved

Next up ..The Best FIFA Women's Player, Infantino to present.

Anyhow, it's Aitana again... two in a row for the FC Barcelona striker.

Moraca's effort for Lazio gets my vote but .... the winner is Marta (Orlando Pride & Brazil).

Her strike for the Seleçao vs Jamaica gets the nod.

The next award goes to the FIFA Marta Award, this celebrates the best goal in the women's game.

Nominees:

Delphine Cascarino (Lyon vs. Benfica)

Marina Hegering (Essen vs. Wolfsburg)

Sakina Karchaoui (France vs. Sweden)

Paulina Krumbiegel (Duisburg vs. Hoffenheim)

Marta (Brazil vs. Jamaica)

Nina Matejic (Serbia U-19 vs. England U-19)

Beth Mead (Arsenal vs. West Ham)

Giuseppina Moraca (Lazio vs. Bologna)

Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona vs. Benfica)

Mayra Pelayo (Mexico vs. USA)

Trinity Rodman (USA vs. Japan)

Emma Hayes wins

Best FIFA Women's coach: Emma Hayes (USWNT/Chelsea)

The Best Fifa Women's XI

Next up is The Best Women's Coach and the winner is Emma Hayes who is currently USWNT head coach and win the Olympic Gold in Paris 

Next award is the Women's XI of the year.

Fara Williams presents the players:

Each of the XI offers a brief video message with a healthy presence of FC Barcelona Femeni players.

The Best FIFA Women's goalkeeper

Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars / USA)

The NWSL player sends a video message and hands credit to her teammates. 

Next up is the Best Women's Goalkeeper.

England's Mary Earps has won the past two awards in this category.

Garnacho bags Puskas Award

FIFA Puskas Award

Winner: Man United's Alejandro Garnacho

The award will be presented by former Juve and Italy star Del Piero.

Personally, I like Hassan Al Haydos but the winner is Man United's Alejandro Garnacho for his strike against Everton.

Arsene Wenger now takes to the stage, the former Arsenal boss is now FIFA's Head of Football.

The Frenchman has been meeting with the Real Madrid squad who touched down in Doha yesterday.

First award coming up and it's the Puskas Award for the Best Goal....video time ...

A bit of tub-thumping from Infantino as he claims that to know who are the best, you need FIFA to decipher this ... clear, transparent and objective he claims.

Just the slightest dig at France Football and the Ballon d'Or award I'd say there. 

It's Gianni time... Suited and booted and no white trainers tonight.

The FIFA chief offers a brief introduction and makes a special mention to delegates from Real Madrid and CF Pachuca.

The first video of the night (there will be many ...) is a recap of previous editions. The 2024 ceremony is the 9th staging of the FIFA The Best Awards since the split from the Ballon d'Or.

There is a live audience present as the hosts run through the voting system...

The eleven awards will be decided by a combined vote featuring: 211 captains of all the national teams affiliated to FIFA, 211 national coaches, a specialist journalist representing each country and the popular vote which closed on 10 December.

Ok, the countdown is on...

Samantha Johnson and Cristina Gullon are the hosts for the event. 

By the way, keeping with all things FIFA, the governing body have just confirmed that 2025 Club World Cup tickets will go on sale as of 19 December... next Thursday !

So, a traditional format? Presenters or will it be the Gianni (Johnnie as Mr Trump likes to call him) show....

All will be revealed imminently. 

We're just a few minutes away from heading to Education City in Doha for the 2024 The Best FIFA Awards.

Strap yourselves in !

The Cristiano vs Messi era is really coming to a close with the Portuguese not shortlisted this year. 

Messi to repeat? Unlikely, but one never knows.... He did help Argentina win the 2024 Copa America and propel Inter Miami to scoop the Supporters' Shield in MLS this season.

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Vini to win men's award?

Social media is rife with speculation (tell me something new I hear you all sigh !) that the Brazilian striker is in line to scoop the men's award. 

This could be wishful thinking from 'Los Blancos' fans but the Madrid man is in with a strong shout as he propelled the team to Wembley Champions League glory after helping the Bernabeu side win the 23-24 LaLiga title.

There is also a train of thought that FIFA may want to award the Brazilian the prize as a rebuff to the Ballon d'Or situation where Rodri pipped the Madrid winger to the award with the fallout leading to the Spanish club boycotting the Paris ceremony in the true spirit of a spoilt child.

Aitana looking to repeat 2023 feat

A domestic league title and a Champions League winners medal plus a series of sublime performances with Spain see Aitana as a string contenter to retain her crown.

There was also the small matter of another Ballon d'Or win back in late October.

The Best Awards and Aspire's 20th birthhday

It is indeed a double celebration in Doha this evening.

We're just thirty minutes away from the ceremony, which as previously mentioned is shrouded in mystery in terms pf format, presenters etc and seemingly forming part of Aspire Academy’s 20-year anniversary, which will be attended by dignitaries including the FIFA President, FIFA Council members, FIFA Legends and other local and regional ambassadors.

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Something tells me a certain club who predominantly wear white and hail from the Spanish capital will do very, very well tonight at the ceremony which incidentally is taking place at the Aspire Academy in Education City in Doha.

FIFA Men's and Women's 11

The Best FIFA Men's and Women's 11 lineups will be confirmed tonight and these have been decided purely via fan votes.

FIFA Fan Award

Jose Armando

Craig Ferguson

Guilherme Gandra Moura

FIFA Marta Award: (best/most pleasing goal in the women's game)

Delphine Cascarino (Lyon vs. Benfica)

Marina Hegering (Essen vs. Wolfsburg)

Sakina Karchaoui (France vs. Sweden)

Paulina Krumbiegel (Duisburg vs. Hoffenheim)

Marta (Brazil vs. Jamaica)

Nina Matejic (Serbia U-19 vs. England U-19)

Beth Mead (Arsenal vs. West Ham)

Giuseppina Moraca (Lazio vs. Bologna)

Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona vs. Benfica)

Mayra Pelayo (Mexico vs. USA)

Trinity Rodman (USA vs. Japan)

FIFA Puskas Award: (best goal)

Hassan Al Haydos (Qatar vs. China)

Terry Antonis (Melbourne City vs. Western Sydney Wanderers)

Yassine Benzia (Algeria vs. South Africa)

Walter Bou (Lanus vs. Tigre)

Michaell Chirinos (Costa Rica vs. Honduras)

Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan vs. Frosinone)

Alejandro Garnacho (Everton vs. Manchester United)

Mohammed Kudus (West Ham vs. Freiburg)

Denis Omedi (KCCA vs. Kitara)

Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor vs. Konyaspor)

Jadon Philogene (Rotherham United vs. Hull City)

The Best FIFA Women's goalkeeper: nominees

Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars / USA)

Ann-Katrin Berger (Chelsea/NJ/NY Gotham / Germany)

Ayaka Yamashita (INAC Kobe Leonessa/Manchester City / Japan)

Cata Coll (Barcelona / Spain)

Mary Earps (Manchester United/PSG / England)

The Best FIFA Men's goalkeeper: nominees

Andriy Lunin (Real Madrid / Ukraine)

David Raya (Arsenal / Spain)

Ederson (Manchester City / Brazil)

Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa / Argentina)

Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG / Italy)

Mike Maignan (AC Milan / France)

Unai Simon (Athletic Club / Spain)

The Best FIFA Women's coach: nominees

Arthur Elias (Brazil)

Elena Sadiku (Celtic)

Emma Hayes (Chelsea/USA)

Futoshi Ikeda (Japan)

Gareth Taylor (Manchester City)

Jonatan Giraldez (Barcelona/Washington Spirit)

Sandrine Soubeyrand (Paris)

Sonia Bompastor (Lyon/Chelsea)

The Best FIFA Men's Coach: nominees

Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)

Lionel Scaloni (Argentina)

Luis de la Fuente (Spain)

Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)

Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen)

The Best FIFA Women's Player: nominees

Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona / Spain)

Barbra Banda (Shanghai Shengli/Orlando Pride / Zambia)

Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona / Norway)

Keira Walsh (Barcelona / England)

Khadija Shaw (Manchester City / Jamaica)

Lauren Hemp (Manchester City / England)

Lindsey Horan (Lyon / USA)

Lucy Bronze (Barcelona/Chelsea / England)

Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars / USA)

Mariona Caldentey (Barcelona/Arsenal / Spain)

Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave / USA)

Ona Battle (Barcelona / Spain)

Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona / Spain)

Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns / USA)

Tabitha Chawinga (PSG/Lyon / Malawi)

Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit / USA)

The Best FIFA Men’s Player nominees

Dani Carvajal (Spain), Real Madrid

Erling Haaland (Norway), Manchester City

Federico Valverde (Uruguay), Real Madrid

Florian Wirtz (Germany), Bayer Leverkusen

Jude Bellingham (England), Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappé (France), Paris Saint-Germain/Real Madrid

Lamine Yamal (Spain), Barcelona

Lionel Messi (Argentina), Inter Miami

Rodri (Spain), Manchester City

Toni Kroos (Germany), Real Madrid (retired)

Vinícius Jr. (Brazil), Real Madrid

Anyway... let's take a look at the nominees....

At present, we're in the dark as to who will present the ceremony and precisely what format the event will have as it's being called by FIFA a 'gala dinner' event...

Will Gianni Infantino be present? one would think the FIFA chief would make some sort of appearance given he's in town with the the Intercontinental Cup coming up in Doha tomorrow.

It all has been very much eleventh hour planning with FIFA only communicating the award ceremony details last Sunday !  

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Voting for 'The Best'

The eleven awards will be decided by a combined vote featuring: 211 captains of all the national teams affiliated to FIFA, 211 national coaches, a specialist journalist representing each country and the popular vote which closed on 10 December.

Online ceremony

Today marks the ninth edition of FIFA’s ‘The Best’ awards with the ceremony itself set to be an online event.

Many have suggested that to avoid the embarrassment of the previous edition in which none of the three men’s finalists were at the gala, FIFA has decided to hold it online.

Having said that, Real Madrid who have been heavily nominated with Vini Jr. heavily tipped to win the Men's Player just happen to be in the Qatari capital ahead of tomorrow's Intercontinental Cup final as they face CF Pachuca from Mexico.

Eleven awards to be handed out

Best FIFA Men's Player

Best FIFA Women's Player

Best FIFA Men's Coach

Best FIFA Women's coach

Best FIFA Men's goalkeeper

Best FIFA Women's goalkeeper

FIFA Puskas Award

FIFA Marta Award

FIFA Men's and Women's 11

FIFA Fan Award

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the 2024 The Best FIFA Awards.

The ceremony gets underway in Doha (Qatar) at 8pm (local time) which is 12:00 pm ET or 09:00 am (PT).