Following the conclusion of the Champions League 2023/24 group stage draw, UEFA has unveiled the winners of its prestigious awards, with the spotlight firmly on the eagerly awaited Player of the Year accolade.
The distinction ultimately went to Norwegian sensation Erling Haaland, surpassing the achievements of Argentine icon Lionel Messi and Belgian star Kevin De Bruyne, based on his exceptional exploits in the previous season.
While many had anticipated a possible victory for Messi after his stellar performance in the Qatar World Cup, it appears that Haaland’s remarkable debut season with Manchester City carried greater weight.
Haaland emerged as the victor of the most recent Champions League tournament, in addition to clinching titles in the Premier League and the FA Cup.
His achievements were further underscored by his breaking of two prominent football records, both relating to his prolific goal-scoring ability.
Haaland’s well-deserved honor was announced merely a day after he was acclaimed as the Premier League’s standout player of the season by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA). These recognitions were largely attributed to his impressive tally of 52 goals across a range of competitions, a feat that included a record-breaking 36 goals in a single Premier League season.
Shifting the focus to the women’s category, Aitana Bonmatí of FC Barcelona emerged triumphant, prevailing over strong contenders Olga Carmona of Real Madrid and Australian sensation Sam Kerr from Chelsea.
This victory marks the conclusion of Barcelona captain Alexia Putella’s reign, as she had secured the coveted award in both 2022 and 2021, making Bonmatí’s win a notable break from the norm.
