At a ceremony in Monaco on Thursday, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Spain’s World Cup-winning sensation Aitana Bonmati were named UEFA Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year, respectively.
Norwegian striker Haaland scored 52 goals in 53 games to help City win the Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup treble, while Bonmati led Spain to World Cup triumph earlier this month.
Haaland’s achievements in his debut season at City after signing from Borussia Dortmund earned him the men’s prize, with club colleagues Kevin De Bruyne and Lionel Messi.
Messi was at Paris Saint-Germain last season but has since left to join Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
“I am kind of living a dream. This was my dream when I was young, so to be able to do this together with my teammates is something special,” Haaland, 23, said after collecting his award.
Bonmati, 25, starred as Barcelona won the Women’s Champions League last season and was then named player of the tournament for her role in Spain’s World Cup triumph in Australia and New Zealand.
She pipped her Spain teammate Olga Carmona, scorer of the winning goal in the World Cup final against England, and Chelsea and Australia striker Sam Kerr to win the UEFA prize.
“It was a season I will never forget,” Bonmati said.
Spain coach Jorge Vilda missed out to England manager Sarina Wiegman for the women’s coach of the year prize.
Pep Guardiola won the men’s coach of the year award after leading City to the treble.