The Best FIFA Awards 2023: Celebrating Football's Elite
The football world converged to honor the most outstanding achievements in the sport through The Best FIFA Awards. These accolades recognize the exceptional talent of players, the strategic brilliance of coaches, and the heartwarming passion of fans across the globe.
Key Facts
- Lionel Messi won The Best FIFA Men's Player with 48 scoring points.
- Aitana Bonmatí secured The Best FIFA Women's Player award with 52 scoring points.
- Pep Guardiola and Sarina Wiegman were named the best men's and women's coaches, respectively.
- Guilherme Madruga took home the FIFA Puskás Award for the most spectacular goal.
- Marta received a Special Award, leading to the creation of the Marta Award for the best women's goal starting in 2025.
The Best Men's Awards
The selection for men's players and coaches focused on achievements between 19 December 2022 and 20 August 2023. Lionel Messi claimed the top honor as The Best FIFA Men's Player, determined by votes from men's national-team captains.
In the specialized categories, Ederson was named The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper with 23 scoring points, while Pep Guardiola earned The Best FIFA Men's Coach title with 28 scoring points.
The Best Women's Awards
The criteria for women's awards spanned a slightly different period, covering achievements from 1 August 2022 to 20 August 2023. Aitana Bonmatí dominated the field, winning The Best FIFA Women's Player with 52 scoring points.
The defensive and tactical honors went to Mary Earps, who was named The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper (28 points), and Sarina Wiegman, who won The Best FIFA Women's Coach (28 points).
Specialized and Community Awards
FIFA Puskás Award
The Puskás Award recognizes the most aesthetically pleasing goal of the year. Guilherme Madruga won the award with 22 scoring points for his goal for Novorizontino against Botafogo-SP in the 2023 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B.
FIFA Fan Award and Fair Play
The FIFA Fan Award celebrates the emotional side of the game. Hugo Daniel "Toto" Iniguez, a Colón de Santa Fe fan, won with 264,591 votes after being filmed feeding his son a bottle during a match. Additionally, the Brazil national team received the FIFA Fair Play Award for wearing all-black kits during a friendly against Guinea as an anti-racism statement.
The Best FIFA Special Award
Brazilian legend Marta was honored with a Special Award for her lifelong contribution to football. To further her legacy, FIFA announced the Marta Award, which will be presented starting in 2025 to the scorer of the best goal in women's football.
FIFA FIFPRO World 11
The FIFPRO World 11 represents the best players in the world as voted by their peers. The 2023 selections highlight a strong presence from Manchester City and Real Madrid.
| Category | Men's World 11 | Women's World 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Thibaut Courtois | Mary Earps |
| Defenders | K. Walker, R. Dias, J. Stones | L. Bronze, O. Carmona, A. Greenwood |
| Midfielders | K. De Bruyne, B. Silva, J. Bellingham | A. Bonmatí, E. Toone, K. Walsh |
| Forwards | L. Messi, V. Júnior, E. Haaland, K. Mbappé | L. James, S. Kerr, A. Morgan, A. Russo |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Men's Player of the Year for 2023?
Lionel Messi won the award with 48 scoring points, based on votes cast by men's national-team captains.
What is the Marta Award?
The Marta Award is a new honor starting in 2025 that will be given to the player who scores the best goal in women's football, named after the Brazilian legend Marta.
Who received the FIFA Puskás Award and for which goal?
Guilherme Madruga won the award for his goal scored for Novorizontino against Botafogo-SP on 27 June 2023 in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B.
How was the FIFA Fan Award decided?
The award was decided by registered votes. Hugo Daniel Iñiguez won with 36.5% of the total votes (264,591 votes) for a heartwarming moment involving his son.
What was the selection period for the women's awards?
The selection criteria for women's players and coaches covered achievements from 1 August 2022 to 20 August 2023.