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      Watch TV reporter’s SAVAGE response after being blanked by Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk at awards ceremony

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      A TV reporter came up with a savage response after being blanked at the Fifa awards ceremony by Virgil van Dijk.The Liverpool defender won another accolade as he was voted in the FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World XI for his performances in 2022.
      Virgil van Dijk was not in the mood for questions with the star avoiding one reporterCredit: Getty
      But the journalist from TyC Sports had a sassy reply waiting after being blankedCredit: TyC Sports via Twitter / @TyCSports

      He was one of a number of stars to win gongs at Fifa’s showpiece event with Lionel Messi awarded the Best FIFA Men’s Player award.
      But as van Dijk was attempting to cross the media pen, one reporter from TyC Sports, an Argentine TV station, tried to ask him question.
      He said: “One minute, just two questions, please.”
      The 31-year-old walked right past and ignored the journalist.
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      The reporter then quipped: “Well, Virgil van Dijk told me no… it doesn’t matter. Argentina won the quarter-finals…”
      Some fans loved the sassy exchange but others believed the comment was over of line.
      One person wrote: “This shows that [van Dijk] did very well not to give him statements. Shame [from a] ‘journalist’.”
      It was an incredible 2022 from van Dijk with the defender at the centre of a Liverpool team chasing the quadruple.
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      The Reds did win the Carabao Cup and FA Cup last season but lost in the Champions League final and fell just short in the Premier League.
      Van Dijk managed to bring that leadership to the international team where Holland scrapped their way into the quarter-finals.
      Despite being 2-0 down to Argentina with eight minutes to go, the Netherlands managed to take a fiercely-contested game all the way to penalties before losing 4-3 on spotkicks. More

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      Fans are just realising Pepe’s real name as Portugal legend, 40, takes Cristiano Ronaldo’s vote in Fifa Best awards

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      FANS are just discovering Pepe’s real name after the 40-year-old voted in the Fifa Awards.Despite being the captain of Portugal in last year’s World Cup, Ronaldo did not cast his votes for Fifa’s best male player like the other international captains.
      Ronaldo and Pepe are the two most experienced heads in the Portugal national teamCredit: Getty
      That duty instead fell for Pepe, who opted to vote for Kylian Mbappe, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema in first, second and third respectively.
      But fans were less interested in who he voted for and more so in the name that was down on the official Fifa documents.
      Instead of referring to him as Pepe, as he is commonly known in football circles, Fifa instead called him by his real name.
      He was listed down as Kepler Ferreira, with Pepe just a nickname for the defender.
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      It came as a surprise for some football fans who had long known him only by his nickname.
      On Twitter, one person wrote “Pepe??” when they saw Ferreira’s name on the document.
      When another tweeter explained it to them, they said: “wtf I feel ashamed.”
      Pepe has had and continues to have a long and distinguished career playing football at the top level.
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      He began his senior career at Portuguese side Maritimo between 2001 and 2004.
      The centre-back then left for Porto for three years when he began to establish himself as a top level defender.
      From 2007 he then spent a decade at Real Madrid and made well over 200 appearances.
      In recent years he has spent time at Besiktas and then returned to Porto in 2019.
      Along with a number of league titles and three Champions League trophies at club level, Pepe also won the Euros with Portugal in 2016 and the Nations League in 2019. More

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      Why didn’t Cristiano Ronaldo vote in the FIFA Men’s Best Award?

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO had been named in the FIFA World XI for the last 14 consecutive years – but that sensational run has come to an end.World Cup winner Lionel Messi collected the FIFA The Best Men’s Player award for 2022, while Ronaldo didn’t even make the World XI squad.
      Lionel Messi won the FIFA Men’s Best Player AwardCredit: Rex
      But not only did Ronaldo not win the award or make the FIFA Fifpro squad.
      Eagle-eyed fans are confused as to why the Portuguese icon didn’t cast his vote – despite all international captains being obliged to do so.
      However, SunSport has solved the mystery below…
      Why did Cristiano Ronaldo not vote?
      The 38-year-old skippered Portugal at the World Cup in Qatar, and there has been no announcement since to suggest that he has been stripped of the armband.

      Fernando Santos was axed as Portugal boss shortly after their elimination, with Roberto Martinez being appointed in his place.
      Rather than Ronaldo, centre-back Pepe voted as Portugal’s captain.
      Upon his appointment, Martinez suggested that Ronaldo would be part of his plans moving forward – despite his predecessor Santos having dropped the Al-Nassr forward during the World Cup.
      Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t vote despite being captain of Portugal at the World CupCredit: Reuters
      Who made the FIFA Fifpro World XI squad?
      World Cup winner Lionel Messi was named in the squad after having such an incredible year.
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      And Karim Benzema’s Ballon d’Or tied in with his Champions League win triumph saw him selected.
      Courtois; Hakimi, Van Dijk, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Casemiro, Modrić; Leo Messi, Benzema, Haaland, Mbappé  More

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      Watch the stunning overhead kick goal from amputee striker that beat Richarlison and Payet to Fifa’s Best Puskas award

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      THIS is the stunning overhead kick goal from an amputee striker that won the Puskas Award.Warta Poznan star Marcin Oleksy became the first-ever amputee footballer to be nominated for the prestigious prize at the Fifa’s Best show.
      This is the goal that won the Puskas Award at Fifa’s BestCredit: Amputee overhead kick – Twitter Amp Futbol Polska
      Amputee star Marcin Oleksy won with a stunning overhead kickCredit: Amputee overhead kick – Twitter Amp Futbol Polska
      And his amazing strike was crowned the best of the bunch against competition from Richarlison and Dimitri Payet.
      Oleksy lined himself up perfectly against Stal Rzeszow when a sublime cross was played into him.
      Using his crutches for balance, the Polish ace incredibly lifted his body off the ground before firing in a gorgeous overhead effort.
      Fans were thrilled with the effort, with one saying: “Well deserved. What a goal!”
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      Another declared: “Stunning strike.”
      One added: “Even the assist was incredible.”
      Second place in the Puskas hunt went to ex-West Ham star Payet.
      The Frenchman belted in a blaster from distance in Marseille’s Europa Conference League clash with PAOK Thessaloniki last season.
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      And third place went to Tottenham’s Richarlison, who netted a beautiful bicycle kick with Brazil at the World Cup.

      Oleksy became an amputee football star after losing his leg in 2010 in a work accident.
      And speaking after his nomination, the ace told Fifa he was over the moon with his world-class goal.
      Oleksy said: “My teammate Dawid Novak played the pass. When I saw the ball coming, I knew I’d be the first to it.
      “I connected really cleanly, it was perfect. When I hit it, I watched the ball all the way and saw it go into the corner of the net.
      “I’d always wanted to score a beautiful goal. You could see the pride on my face after I scored.
      “I stood up tall, I stuck my chest out. I was just so happy.” More

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      Real Madrid star David Alaba suffers racist abuse after his vote at Fifa Best Awards

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      REAL MADRID star David Alaba was racially abused after seemingly voting for Lionel Messi rather than Karim Benzema in Fifa’s The Best awards.The Paris Saint-Germain ace, 35, crowned his 2022 by leading Argentina to their first World Cup since 1986.
      David Alaba received racist abuse after Fifa’s The Best awardsCredit: Getty
      Messi has now scooped his latest accolade at Fifa’s The Best following last night’s glitzy bash in Paris after receiving the most votes from his peers.
      The legend pipped club mate Kylian Mbappe to the top prize – which he lifted for a second time – with 52 points compared to the Frenchman’s 44.
      Madrid star Karim Benzema came in third on 34 points. 
      A breakdown of each national captain who voted has now been released – but it was Austrian skipper Alaba’s choice that had some of his own supporters raging.
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      Despite other players prioritising their own team-mates, the 30-year-old ex-Bayern Munich ace did not select Real Madrid colleague Benzema in top spot.
      He handed his five points to Messi, with Benzema in second and Mbappe in third – and soon #AlabaOut began trending on social media before he received the disgusting racist abuse.
      Idiots commented with monkey emojis on many of Alaba’s recent social media posts in a sickening online attack.
      Meanwhile, Alaba took to Twitter to offer an explanation on the choice of Messi following the criticism.
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      He wrote: “The Austrian national team vote for this award as a team, not me alone.
      “Everyone in the team council is able to vote and that’s how it’s decided. 
      “Everyone knows, especially Karim, how much I admire him and his performances and I have often said that for me he is the best striker in the world, and that is still the case. Without doubt.”
      Lionel Messi received the The Best Fifa Men’s Player award for a second timeCredit: Getty More

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      ‘Did Garth Crooks pick this team?’ – Fans baffled by Fifa’s ‘horrendous’ FIFPRO World XI

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      FOOTBALL fans have been left puzzled by the ‘horrendous’ FIFPRO World XI.The Best Fifa awards were held on Monday with Lionel Messi picking up the main prize to equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s haul of two.
      The FIFPRO Best XI used a strange 3-3-4 formation
      Emi Martinez was left out of the line-up despite winning the Fifa Best goalkeeper awardCredit: Getty
      Lionel Messi scooped up the top prize for a second timeCredit: Getty
      The Paris Saint-Germain star was a shoo-in for the award following his World Cup win and he was also included in the FIFPRO World XI.
      But he had to be shoehorned into a line-up that included three other forwards, including team-mate Kylian Mbappe.
      Fans were left confused by the strange 3-3-4 formation that was used to fit in Karim Benzema and Erling Haaland.
      Many also took aim at the defence and the decision to pick Thibaut Courtois in goal over World Cup hero Emi Martinez, despite the latter winning the Fifa Best goalkeeper award.
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      The presence of Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk in defence also baffled some supporters.
      He is joined in defence by Achraf Hakimi and Joao Cancelo, while a midfield three consists of Casemiro, Luka Modric and Kevin De Bruyne.
      Mystified fans hit out at the line-up with one describing it as “horrendous”.
      Another made a joke in reference to a BBC pundit who regularly picks controversial weekly best XIs: “Did Garth Crooks pick this team?”
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      And a third said: “What a joke 😂”
      Another commented: “Who chucked Van Dijk in?😂” More

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      Wiegman and Earps win best Fifa women’s coach and goalkeeper awards with England quartet named in world XI

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      SARINA WIEGMAN lifted her second trophy this year after being named best Fifa women’s coach for 2022.And England number one Mary Earps was named best female goalkeeper at a glitzy ceremony in Paris.  
      Sarina Wiegman was named best Fifa women’s coach for the third time following wins in 2017 and 2020Credit: EPA
      Mary Earps’ heroics in goal for the Lionesses saw her win Fifa’s best women’s goalkeeper prizeCredit: EPA
      Beth Mead and USA striker Alex Morgan were among the aces named in Fifa’s best women’s elevenCredit: Getty
      The win for Wiegman, shortlisted alongside Brazil boss Pia Sundhage and Lyon chief Sonia Bompastor, saw her lift the award for the third time. 
      Her win comes seven months after the Netherlands-born coach led the Lionesses to Euros triumph on home soil last summer.
      It was the first major tournament ever won by an England Women’s national football side with her team hoping for more glory at this summer’s World Cup. 
      After her award win Wiegman, 53, said: “From when I could walk I have loved football.
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      “It’s just incredible to be right here and to celebrate women’s football. 
      “Little girls have their idols and inspirations. So many people across the world have worked so hard to get the game where it is right now.
      “As for last summer, the stadiums were full.
      “Wembley was full and there were so many families in the stadiums celebrating football. 
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      “Behind me is a big team. Without great players you are nowhere.  
      “Last but not least, my family have seen me more on TV than at home. Thank you for supporting me.”
      Under their boss the Lionesses are currently 29 games unbeaten with their most recent win seeing them retain the Arnold Clark Cup on February 22. 
      During the Euros the team kept four clean sheets in six games conceding just twice.
      And Manchester United shot stopper Earps played in every single match. 
      Her efforts saw her win the Fifa best women’s goalkeeper gong for 2022 ahead of Chelsea’s Ann-Katrin Berger and Lyon’s Christiane Endler. 
      It comes just over a month on from Earps becoming the first goalkeeper to record 50 clean sheets in the WSL. 
      And the England star thanked Wiegman for helping her to pursue her “wildest dreams”. 
      At the ceremony, Earps, 29, said: “I feel really honoured to be holding this really heavy trophy. 
      “I want to say thank you to my loved ones who have picked me up off the kitchen floor to be here today, not today but in the past.
      “Sarina I’ve run out of words to say thanks to you for the opportunity to chase my wildest dreams and believing in me the way you have. 
      Lucy Bronze (right) was named in Fifa’s best women’s eleven along with England team-mates Mead, Keira Walsh and Leah WilliamsonCredit: Getty
      Barcelona superstar Alexia Putellas won the best Fifa women’s player award for 2022Credit: Getty
      “For anyone who has been in a dark place, keep going. Sometimes it’s just putting one step in front of the other.”
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      Alexia Putellas was crowned best Fifa women’s player ahead of England forward  Beth Mead and USA striker Alex Morgan. 
      And the trio were all named in Fifa’s best women’s X eleven along with Lionesses trio Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh and Leah Williamson. More

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      Mystery as Cristiano Ronaldo DOESN’T vote in Fifa Best award… but Portugal captain’s pal Pepe still snubs Messi

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO did NOT vote in the Fifa Best Awards, despite international captains being entitled to do so.The 38-year-old skippered Portugal at the World Cup in Qatar, and there has been no announcement since to suggest that he has been stripped of the armband.
      Cristiano Ronaldo wore Portugal’s captain’s armband in QatarCredit: AP
      Pepe voted in Ronaldo’s placeCredit: Getty
      Fernando Santos was axed as Portugal boss shortly after their elimination, with Roberto Martinez being appointed in his place.
      Rather than Ronaldo, centre-back Pepe voted as Portugal’s captain.
      The former Real Madrid hardman, 40, voted for PSG star Kylian Mbappe as men’s player of the year.
      And he didn’t even select old rival Lionel Messi in his top three – instead going for former Madrid team-mates Luka Modric and Karim Benzema in second and third respectively.
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      Upon his appointment, Martinez suggested that Ronaldo would be part of his plans moving forward – despite his predecessor Santos having dropped the Al-Nassr forward during the World Cup.
      He said: “I hope we can sit down with him and create the best team. It’s a day of great satisfaction, but tomorrow we’ll get down to business.
      “We’re going to start a footballing process to try to get to know all the players that could make it to the national team.
      “We’re going to give all the players an opportunity and respect all those who are already in the national team. Cristiano is one of them.
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      “I’m delighted to be able to have them by my side. It’s a process that we have to face naturally, with responsibility, and we’re going to make important decisions for the team.”
      Despite being snubbed by Pepe, Messi romped to his second “The Best” award triumph – equalling Ronaldo’s tally.
      The 35-year-old was also named in the FIFPRO World XI, and attended the plush bash in Paris alongside wife Antonela and PSG team-mate Mbappe.
      Upon accepting his latest gong, Messi said: “It is an amazing pleasure to be here, alongside Benzema and Mbappe, who had a wonderful year.
      “It was an amazing year and I achieved a dream that I had been hoping for for so long.
      “I want to pay tribute to all of my team-mates and my coach, without them I wouldn’t be here.”
      Victorious Lionel Messi attended the bash alongside wife AntonelaCredit: Getty More