The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024: List of nominees for soccer prizes including Lionel Messi and Pep Guardiola

Joe Wright

The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024: List of nominees for soccer prizes including Lionel Messi and Pep Guardiola image

Pep Guardiola may be enduring a rough time of things at Manchester City, but he is among the candidates to win a prize at the 2024 Best FIFA Football Awards.

The City manager is up for the men's coach award at the ceremony — FIFA's rival to the prestigious Ballon d'Or gala — which takes place in Qatar on December 17.

City striker Erling Haaland is up against the likes of Lionel Messi and the Real Madrid trio of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham for the men's player award, while Aitana Bonmati is among the favourites for the women's gong.

The iconic Puskas Award for the best goal of the year will also be presented at the gala dinner. The complete list of prizes up for grabs is below.

MORE: Complete list of prize winners at the 2024 Ballon d'Or gala

What are The Best FIFA awards?

The Best FIFA Football Awards have been handed out since 2017 as part of FIFA's plan to create an award solely within its organisation.

Briefly, FIFA partnered with France Football for the Ballon d'Or award, but that ended in 2016. Football's governing body then embarked on its own set of awards for the top players and coaches in the sport.

The Ballon d'Or has been in circulation since 1956, and despite FIFA's global standing as a football entity, The Best awards still have some catching up to do to be considered of the same prestige as the Ballon d'Or.

The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024 nominees, final shortlists, prizes

Best FIFA Men's Player

Real Madrid dominate the shortlist for the Best Men's Player award after winning La Liga and the UEFA Champions League in 2023/24.

  • Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid / Spain)
  • Erling Haaland (Manchester City / Norway)
  • Federico Valverde (Real Madrid / Uruguay)
  • Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen / Germany)
  • Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid / England)
  • Kylian Mbappe (PSG/Real Madrid / France)
  • Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
  • Lionel Messi (Inter Miami / Argentina)
  • Rodri (Manchester City / Spain)
  • Toni Kroos* (Real Madrid / Germany)
  • Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid / Brazil)

*Retired after Euro 2024

Best FIFA Women's Player

Spain star Aitana Bonmati, winner of last year's prize and the Ballon d'Or Feminin holder, is the favourite.

  • 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)

Best FIFA Men's Coach

Guardiola will hope to defend his award, but Carlo Ancelotti and Xabi Alonso are considered the favourites.

  • Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)
  • Lionel Scaloni (Argentina)
  • Luis de la Fuente (Spain)
  • Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)
  • Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen)

Best FIFA Women's coach

Sarina Wiegman won the past two awards, but the England boss is not among this year's 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)

Best FIFA Men's goalkeeper

Emiliano Martinez, winner in 2022, will be hoping to claim back this prize. Last year's winner, Ederson, is again among the 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)

Best FIFA Women's goalkeeper

Alyssa Naeher and Mary Earps are among the leading names for this prize.

  • 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)

FIFA Puskas Award

The FIFA Puskas Award is always highly sought-after as it honours the best goal scored that year. In 2024, this is restricted to men's football only, as the women's game has a separate prize.

  • 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)

FIFA Marta Award

The Marta Award is given to the most aesthetically pleasing goal in the women's game this year.

  • 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 Men's and Women's 11

The inaugural Best FIFA Men's and Women's 11 lineups will be announced at the ceremony. These are decided purely via a fan vote.

FIFA Fan Award

The FIFA Fan Award is given to a fan or group of supporters who "help make the beautiful game exactly that".

  • Jose Armando
  • Craig Ferguson
  • Guilherme Gandra Moura

FIFA The Best former winners

Below is the full tables of former winners in the main awards since 2016.

The Best FIFA Men's Player Award

YearPlayerClubNation
2023Lionel MessiPSG/Inter MiamiArgentina
2022Lionel MessiPSGArgentina
2021Robert LewandowskiBayern MunichPoland
2020Robert LewandowskiBayern MunichPoland
2019Lionel MessiBarcelonaArgentina
2018Luka ModricReal MadridCroatia
2017Cristiano RonaldoReal MadridPortugal
2016Cristiano RonaldoReal MadridPortugal

The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper Award

YearPlayerClubNation
2023EdersonManchester CityBrazil
2022Emiliano MartinezAston VillaArgentina
2021Edouard MendyChelseaSenegal
2020Manuel NeuerBayern MunichGermany
2019AlissonLiverpoolBrazil
2018Thibaut CourtoisChelsea/Real MadridBelgium
2017Gianluigi BuffonJuventusItaly

The Best FIFA Men's Coach Award

YearPlayerTeamNationality
2023Pep GuardiolaManchester CitySpain
2022Lionel ScaloniArgentinaArgentina
2021Thomas TuchelChelseaGermany
2020Jurgen KloppLiverpoolGermany
2019Jurgen KloppLiverpoolGermany
2018Didier DeschampsFranceFrance
2017Zinedine ZidaneReal MadridFrance
2016Claudio RanieriLeicester CityItaly

The Best FIFA Women's Player Award

YearPlayerClubNation
2023Aitana BonmatiBarcelonaSpain
2022Alexia PutellasBarcelonaSpain
2021Alexia PutellasBarcelonaSpain
2020Lucy BronzeLyon/Man CityEngland
2019Megan RapinoeReign FCUSA
2018MartaOrlando PrideBrazil
2017Lieke MartensRosengard/BarcelonaNetherlands
2016Carli LloydHouston DashUSA

The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper Award

YearPlayerClubNation
2023Mary EarpsManchester UnitedEngland
2022Mary EarpsManchester UnitedEngland
2021Christiane EndlerPSGChile
2020Sarah BouhaddiLyonFrance
2019Sari van VeenendaalArsenal/Atletico MadridNetherlands

The Best FIFA Women's Coach Award

YearPlayerTeamNationality
2023Sarina WiegmanEnglandNetherlands
2022Sarina WiegmanEnglandNetherlands
2021Emma HayesChelseaEngland
2020Sarina WeigmanNetherlandsNetherlands
2019Jill EllisEnglandUSA
2018Reynald PedrosLyonFrance
2017Sarina WiegmanNetherlandsNetherlands
2016Silvia NeidGermanyGermany

FIFA Puskas Award — the prize for the best goal

YearPlayerTeamMatch / Goal
2023Guilherme MadrugaBotafogovs. Novorizontino (1-0)
2022Marcin OleksyWarta Poznanvs. Stal Rzeszow
2021Erik LamelaTottenhamvs. Arsenal (1-0)
2020Son Heung-MinTottenhamvs. Burnley (3-0)
2019Daniel ZsoriDebrecenvs. Ferencvaros (2-1)
2018Mohamed SalahLiverpoolvs. Everton (1-0)
2017Oliver GiroudArsenalvs. Crystal Palace (1-0)
2016Mohd Faiz SubriPenangvs. Pahang (4-1)
2015Wendell LiraGoianesiavs. Atletico Goianiense (1-0)
2014James RodriguezColombiavs. Uruguay (1-0)
2013Zlatan IbrahimovicSwedenvs. England (4-2)
2012Miroslav StochFenerbahcevs. Genclerbirligi (6-1)
2011NeymarSantosvs. Flamengo (4-5)
2010Hamit AltintopTurkeyvs. Kazakhstan (2-0)
2009Cristiano RonaldoMan Unitedvs. Porto (1-0)

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Joe Wright

Joe Wright Photo

Joe Wright is a Senior Editor at Sporting News, managing global soccer and the UK team. He was previously a sub editor and writer for Goal.com before spending six years as part of the Stats Perform editorial news service, covering major global sports including football, tennis, boxing, NBA, rugby union and athletics. Joe has extensive experience covering some of the biggest events in football, including two UEFA Champions League finals, Euro 2016, the Confederations Cup 2017 and the 2018 World Cup, which included the final in Moscow.