Fifa Best Awards 2024: Messi, Earps and Wiegman scoop top football awards

It was a huge night for football as some of the biggest names in the sport hit the red carpet for the Fifa Best awards.

Manchester United and England goalkeeper Mary Earps was crowned the best goalkeeper in the women's game for a second year in a row - becoming the first two-time winner in the award's history.

Current Ballon d'Or winners Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmati scooped best male and female players of the year and England manager Sarina Wiegman picked up best women's coach.

Keep reading to find out who were some of the other big winners on the night.

Who were the big winners?

Winners of the Fifa Best Awards are decided by a mix of votes from players, journalists and fans and there are prizes such as best male and female players, coaches and goalkeepers all up for grabs.

The Fifa Best Awards generally cover a calendar year and are different to the Ballon d'Or awards that reflect performances across a season.

This year's glitzy ceremony took place in London for the very first time.

Manchester United and England goalkeeper Mary Earps was named the best goalkeeper in the women's game for 2023, having played a huge part of the Lionesses success at the Women's World Cup in the summer.

She only conceded four goals in seven games for the Lionesses in Australia and New Zealand, which saw England reach the final and finish runners-up behind champions Spain.

The 30-year-old also recently won the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year and BBC Women's Footballer of the Year awards.

In fact, it was a great night for the Lionesses.

England manager Serena Wiegman was named as the best women's coach of the year, for the fourth time, having previously also won in 2017, 2020 and 2022.

And seven Lionesses - including Lauren James, Alessia Russo and Lucy Bronze - were named in Fifa's Women's World XI squad - a record for the most players from one country.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi took home the men's player of the year award for a record third time.

But it wasn't easy - Messi won by the tightest of margins, edging Manchester City striker Erling Haaland into second place. Paris St-Germain attacker Kylian Mbappe came third in that category.

The award for best female player went to Aitana Bonmati, who won the World Cup with Spain last year - adding to her Women's Ballon d'Or and Uefa women's player of the year accolades.

She finished ahead of Colombia and Real Madrid star Linda Caicedo, and Spain team-mate Jenni Hermoso.

Manchester City, who had a huge season last year - winning the Treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, also won big at the awards.

Manchester City's Ederson collected the best goalkeeper award, while manager Pep Guardiola picked up the men's coach of the year.

And there were six Manchester City players named in the men's team of the year - defenders John Stones, Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias, midfielders Bernardo Silva and Kevin de Bruyne and striker Erling Haaland.