Monday night’s FIFA awards ceremony saw Lionel Messi pip Erling Haaland once again to the big prize, but Thierry Henry stole the show on the night.
The FIFA awards started off with the women’s game as seven Lionesses were named in the best XI for 2023.
Mary Earps also retained her Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper prize from last year before Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati won the Best Women’s Player award.
The men’s awards saw Pep Guardiola win Coach of the Year while Ederson was named Goalkeeper of the Year.
Pep Guardiola didn’t appreciate Thierry Henry’s question
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But Haaland was unable to make it a hat-trick of trophies on the night for Manchester City as he was beaten by Lionel Messi once again in the voting for the Best Men’s Player.
It was a similar story for Haaland in the Ballon d’Or voting from last year with Messi also coming out on top that time around.
Messi wasn’t present in London to collect his eighth Best FIFA Men’s Player award so Henry picked up the trophy on his behalf.
The Arsenal icon was co-host of the ceremony with Reshmin Chowdhury and Henry used the moment to take the trophy by aiming a dig at his co-presenter.
He began: “Unfortunately the winner is not with us tonight. So someone is going to have to take the trophy. I might, shall I? I mean, I came.
“I actually have two reasons for taking it. I never won it so I’ll keep it and you’re a Tottenham fan right [Reshmin]?
“That’s the other reason, because you don’t usually get your hands on the trophy so I’ll take this one. Thank you very much.”
Chowdhury wasn’t the only one to give Henry daggers for a remark made on stage as Guardiola was put on the spot by the Frenchman earlier in the ceremony.
After Guardiola picked up the coach of the year having led City to their famous treble, he was joined by Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias on stage.
The City duo were joined by John Stones, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Haaland by making it into the FIFPRO Men’s Best XI.
Thierry Henry took the award on behalf of Lionel Messi
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Henry noted to Guardiola that the last time six players from the same team made it into the FIFA Best XI when back when he was in charge of Barcelona.
The legendary striker then asked Guardiola directly which of the two teams were the best overall.
Guardiola appeared floored by the question and tried to deflect by saying “it will be a good game”.
But before that, Guardiola’s mic picked him up saying “f***”, with Dias and Walker laughing hysterically to the side of him.
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Thierry Henry took a dig at Tottenham
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“This team as well in England, in the Premier League, is really really tough and competitive in many competitions,” he said.
“These guys season by season by season. Even this season after winning the treble we are there.
“I wake up in the morning and just go in there just to prepare or dream or whatever.
“Being with them – not winning or losing – that is the best award I can get as a manager by far.”
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