The Best FIFA Awards: Jude Bellingham named in Men’s Best XI, Lionesses dominate women’s team

Jude Bellingham’s fine form in 2023 has been rewarded with a place in the FIFPro Men’s Best XI, while the Lionesses dominate the women’s team.

England star Bellingham has been a pivotal player for Real Madrid since arriving at the Bernabeu from Borussia Dortmund in a £88.5 million summer move.

This season, the 20-year-old has scored 17 goals in just 24 appearances for Los Blancos, including four in the UEFA Champions League.

Bellingham was one of three midfielders selected, with Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne making up a formidable trio.

In total, six City Treble-winners featured in the all-star team, the most since Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona team of 2010.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois completed the team, although City’s Ederson won the Best Men’s Goalkeeper award.

Guardiola – who was named Best Men’s Coach for guiding City to Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup success – was asked by host Thierry Henry about which of his Treble-winning sides were better.

“Barcelona is the club of my heart, they are the reason why I am here,” he said.

“But doing it with Man City, 15 or 20 years ago we were not here. We have built step by step since Roberto Mancini was here. Those years ago, we could not expect to be here.”

Meanwhile, Botafogo’s Guilherme Madruga’s 25-yard overhead kick against Novorizontino during a Serie B game in Brazil won the Puskas Award.

The Brazil men’s national team won the Fair Play Award for wearing an all-black kit to show their support for team-mate Vinicius Jr, after the Real Madrid forward had been targeted by racist abuse.

It was another night to remember for the Lionesses, who had no fewer than seven players selected in the Women’s Best XI, while manager Sarina Wiegman won the Best Women’s Coach award for the fourth time.

Wiegman – who also won the award in 2017, 2020, and 2022 – led England to the final of the World Cup where they were narrowly beaten by Spain having already won the Arnold Clark Cup and the Finalissima.

Manchester United’s Mary Earps, who was honoured with the Golden Glove at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, won the Best Women’s Goalkeeper award for the second consecutive year.

Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Lauren James, Alessia Russo, Ella Toone and Keira Walsh joined Earps in the Women’s Best XI team. Aitana Bonmati, the winner of The Best Women’s Player, her Spain team-mate Olga Carmona and USA’s Alex Morgan and Australia star Sam Kerr made up the remainder of the team.

Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois

Defence: John Stones, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias

Midfield: Bernardo Silva, Jude Bellingham, Kevin De Bruyne

Forwards: Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Vinicius Jr

Defence: Olga Carmona, Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood

Midfield: Keira Walsh, Alessia Russo, Lauren James, Ella Toone, Aitana Bonmati

Attack: Alex Morgan, Sam Kerr