2024 was an eventful year in football where the world’s very best in the sports graced the biggest competitions and tournaments at both club and national team levels. The year started with a dramatic Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Ivory Coast which saw the host nation stage a dream comeback from being almost eliminated to winning the ultimate over Nigeria. It then got more entertaining as the year progressed with the European Championship in Germany where Spain defeated England to clinch a record fourth title. That same summer, Argentina won their 16th Copa America trophy over Columbia. In between these major international tournaments was back-to-back action at the club football level with Real Madrid winning La Liga and the coveted UEFA Champions League, Manchester City winning a fourth consecutive English Premier League title, Inter Milan crowned Scudetto champions, Bayer Leverkusen going invincible to win their first Bundesliga title but lost the UEFA EUROPA League to Atalanta, as Olympiacos won the UEFA Conference League. In the women’s game, Barcelona defended their Champions League title with a 2-0 win over Lyon. Spain also won both the inaugural Women’s Nations League. All these were achieved with the best footballers, coaches, and tactical brains playing key roles. So who won the major awards in football in 2024? 2024 Ballon d’Or Men’s Ballon d’Or: Rodri Women’s Ballon d’Or: Aitana Bonmati Kopa Trophy: Lamine Yamal Men’s Coach of the Year: Carlo Ancelotti Women’s Coach of the Year: Emma Hayes Yashin Trophy: Emiliano Martinez Men’s Club of the Year: Real Madrid Women’s Club of the Year: Barcelona Gerd Muller Trophy: Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024 Women’s Player of the Year: Aitana Bonmatí | FC Barcelona, Spain Men’s Player of the Year: Vinicius Jr | Real Madrid, Brazil Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Alyssa Naeher | Chicago Red Stars, USWNT Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Emiliano Martínez | Aston Villa, Argentina Women’s Coach of the Year: Emma Hayes | Chelsea & USWNT Men’s Coach of the Year: Carlo Ancelotti | Real Madrid FIFA Marta Award (best goal in women’s football): Marta | Brazil vs. Jamaica Best men’s goal: Alejandro Garnacho | Everton vs Man Utd 2024 CAF Awards Men’s Player of the Year: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta/Nigeria) Women’s Player of the Year: Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride/Zambia) Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns/South Africa) Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC/Nigeria) Men’s Interclub Player of the Year: Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns/South Africa) Women’s Interclub Player of the Year: Sanaa Mssoudy (AS FAR/Morocco) Men’s Young Player of the Year: Lamine Camara (AS Monaco/Senegal) Women’s Young Player of the Year: Doha El Madani (AS FAR/Morocco) Men’s Coach of the Year: Emerse Fae (Cote d’Ivoire) Women’s Coach of the Year: Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe) Men’s National Team of the Year: Cote d’Ivoire Women’s National Team of the Year: Nigeria Men’s Club of the Year: Al Ahly (Egypt) Women’s Club of the Year: TP Mazembe (DR Congo) Men’s Referee of the Year: Mutaz Ibrahim (Libya) Women’s Referee of the Year: Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco) Men’s Assistant Referee of the Year: Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue (Cameroon) Women’s Assistant Referee of the Year: Diana Chikotesha (Zambia) Goal of the Year: Mabululu (Angola) 2024 SWAG Awards Footballer of the Year (Male) – Mohammed Kudus Sports Personality of the Year – Mohammed Kudus Footballer of the Year (Home-based) – Jonathan Sowah – Medeama Footballer of the Year (Female) – Princella Adubea Footballer of the Year (Female, Home-based) – Comfort Yeboah – Ampem Darkoa Ladies Club of the Year – Medeama SC Coach of the Year – Augustine Evans Adotey – Medeama SC