- Title: Ronaldo, Messi and van Dijk headline Best FIFA Awards shortlist
- Date: 2nd September 2019
- Summary: LISBON, PORTUGAL (FILE - MAY 29, 2019) (REUTERS) PORTUGAL AND JUVENTUS FORWARD, CRISTIANO RONALDO, RUNNING THEN WALKING DURING TRAINING MADRID, SPAIN (FILE - MARCH 19, 2019) (REUTERS) ARGENTINA AND BARCELONA FORWARD, LIONEL MESSI, SITTING ON A BALL MADRID, SPAIN (FILE - MARCH 18, 2019) (REUTERS) MESSI JOGGING WITH TEAMMATES DURING ARGENTINA TRAINING GUIMARES, PORTUGAL (FILE - JUNE 5, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NETHERLANDS AND LIVERPOOL DEFENDER, VIRGIL VAN DIJK, DURING TRAINING
- Embargoed: 16th September 2019 13:44
- Keywords: Alex Morgan Best FIFA Awards Lionel Messi Jill Ellis Pep Guardiola Mauricio Pochettino Sarina Wiegman Megan Rapinoe Lucy Bronze Phil Neville Cristiano Ronaldo Jurgen Klopp Virgil van Dijk
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001AUYU0JJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: On the back of being named UEFA Men's Player of the Year, Liverpool's Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk is among a three-man shortlist, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, for the best men's player award at The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019.
Van Dijk was voted both the Premier League Player of the Season and the Players' Player of the Year, and was instrumental in the Merseyside club's sixth European Cup triumph last season.
Ronaldo won Italy's Serie A title in his debut season with Juventus and was also voted the league's most valuable player.
Ronaldo also led Portugal to the inaugural UEFA Nations League title in June, while Lionel Messi lifted the Spanish La Liga trophy for a 10th time.
U.S. World Cup winners Megan Rapinoe, who won the top scorer's Golden Boot and Golden Ball for the best player at the tournament, Alex Morgan along with England right back Lucy Bronze make up the women's finalists.
Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp and domestic treble winner Pep Guardiola of Manchester City head the nominees for the men's coach of the year award, with Champions League finalist Mauricio Pochettino making up the list.
U.S. women's national team coach Jill Ellis, who led her side to their fourth World Cup title in July, heads the list of finalists for the best women's team coach.
She is joined by Sarina Wiegman, who led the Netherlands to their first ever World Cup final, and England manager Phil Neville.
The winners will be announced in a ceremony in Milan on September 23.
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