Manchester City dominate Best FIFA awards

The performances of Premier League stars were recognised at The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023 on Monday night in London, with Treble-winners Manchester City dominating.

Six City players were named in the FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World11, the only global football award decided exclusively by professional footballers, celebrating the 11 best players at the end of each calendar year.

Kyle Walker, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland were selected, with City the first English club to have six players named in one team.

They were among 12 current Premier League players or those involved in the competition in 2023 to be shortlisted, along with Ederson, Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan, who is now at Barcelona, Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk and former Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, now at Bayern Munich.

Although he didn't earn a spot in the World11, Ederson did pick up the Best Men's Goalkeeper award, earning the honour for the first time.

Haaland was nominated for Best Men's player, but was beaten by Lionel Messi’s exploits with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

The men's achievements are considered for the period from 19 December 2022 to 20 August 2023.

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola was named as the Best Men's Coach, claiming the prize for the first time in his career after finishing third in this category in each of the previous two years.

Brighton & Hove Albion forward Julio Enciso was nominated for the prestigious FIFA Puskas award for Best Goal after his stunning strike (below) against Man City last May, which won the Budweiser Goal of Season award for 2022/23.

But the Paraguay international lost out to Brazilian Guilherme Madruga for the prize.