Milan (AFP)

Lionel Messi rather than Cristiano Ronaldo and especially that Virgil Van Dijk: The Argentinean beat the odds and was elected Monday player Fifa of the year at a ceremony held in the lavish setting of the Scala in Milan.

Can we really talk about surprise when Messi is designated as the best? For once, maybe. For if the Argentinian finished top scorer in Europe (36 goals) of the season and champion of Spain with Barça, he also stopped in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Van Dijk triumphed with Liverpool and won the UEFA Champions League title last month and made it a favorite for the Fifa The Best, ahead of Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo. , the third finalist.

Pillar of a Dutch selection in full revival, the colossus (1.93 m for 92 kg) has asserted itself without great discussion as the best central defender of the world and as one of the strongest for a long time.

But that was not enough in the face of the unequaled genius of Messi, who therefore put the Dutchman to the plate and at the same time relaunched the suspense for the Ballon d'Or, the third most prestigious individual award, which will be awarded on December 2nd.

"I want to thank everyone who voted for me, the individual prizes are a minor thing for me, the important thing is the collective, but it's a special moment for me to be here with my wife and two of my three children, "said Messi.

Created in 2016, the Fifa The Best Award was one of the very few awards so far escaped Messi. In 2016 and 2017, Ronaldo was crowned and Luka Modric succeeded him last year.

Each time, the winner of the Fifa Prize received the Ballon d'Or in stride.

- Rapinoe best player -

On the women's side, American Megan Rapinoe was named the best player of the year, beating fellow Frenchman Alex Morgan with whom she won the 2019 World Cup in France, and the British Lucy Bronze. .

Brilliant throughout the tournament this summer in France, the 34-year-old had won the Golden Shoe as top scorer in the competition and also received the Golden Ball award for the tournament's top player.

"We have a unique opportunity to use this beautiful game to change the world for the better," said in his Rapinoe speech, committed in particular to the struggle for LGBT rights and gender equality. "Do something, do anything," she urged.

The best goalie awards have been awarded to Brazil's Alisson, who is staggering with Liverpool, and Dutchman Sari van Veenendaal.

Not surprisingly this time, Jürgen Klopp and Jill Ellis were crowned best coaches of the year. The German took Liverpool to the title in the Champions League while the American won a second consecutive consecration in World Cup.

The typical team of the year seemed less indisputable, with the presence of several players from Real Madrid like Sergio Ramos, Marcelo or Modric, whose season has not been unforgettable. Sadio Mané, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, great craftsmen of Liverpool's super season, have been forgotten.

The fair play award went to Leeds and coach Marcelo Bielsa, who had asked his players to let Aston Villa score a goal. Leeds had just scored while a Villa player was down.

The young Hungarian Daniel Zsori received the Puskas prize of the year goal for a superb successful return with his club Debrecen.

© 2019 AFP