La Masia Takes Centre Stage at the Best FIFA Football Awards in London
Barça's academy emerged as the unequivocal victors at the Best FIFA Football Awards in London, with the men's and women's best player and men's best coach accolades all going to products of La Masia.
Aitana Bonmatí, Barcelona's 25-year-old central midfielder, has added the FIFA Women's Best Player award for 2023 to her burgeoning collection, at the ceremony hosted at London's Apollo. Taking over from her teammate Alexia Putellas, the winner in 2021 and 2022, Bonmatí maintains the Blaugrana's grip on this prestigious honour. Lucy Bronze, the 2020 winner, now with Barça and formerly of Olympique Lyon, further highlights the club's dominance, with three of the last four awards being claimed by Barcelona players—a powerful testament to their dominance.
Bonmatí, who led Barcelona to Champions League triumph and captained Spain to their first World Cup victory in 2023, was the undeniable favourite for the award, edging out ex-teammate Jennifer Hermoso, now of Mexican side Tigres.
The accolades for Lionel Messi as The Best FIFA Men's Player and Pep Guardiola as Best Coach, both alumni of Barcelona's esteemed La Masia academy, reinforce the academy's significant influence on the global football stage.
It was Lionel Messi’s third time to take the award after also picking it up in 2019 and 2022 making him the player with the most FIFA the Best Awards.
However, the La Masía success at the FIFA gala stands in stark contrast to the club's current turmoil. Just two days prior to the award, Barcelona suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat at the hands of their arch-rivals in the Spanish Super Cup final in Riyadh, prompting criticism of Xavi's management. This comes after months of poor form for the Catalans who are currently forth in LaLiga. In response, Pep Guardiola offered unwavering support for Xavi, who is currently feeling the heat.
“I want to give Xavi my support. It is easy to blame the coach, but the players have to step up. There is no secret, they are the ones who play. Not everything is the coach’s fault,” he said.
“The players have to take a step forward, if the coach stays until the end, the players have to show their quality, they have done it many times and will do it again.”
Guardiola's supportive words, coming from a manager who holds Barcelona close to his heart, could give Xavi the boost he needs. Whether it will be enough to turn the tide at the club is yet to be seen.
Barça success in London may also bring the smile back to FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta's face, but for it to last, the team will need to enhance their performance on the pitch and focus on the remaining tournaments.
Their first opportunity to bounce back will come this Thursday in the Copa del Rey as they travel west to face Unionistas de Salamanca, before returning to La Liga action against Real Betis at the weekend.