The Best Fifa awards LIVE: Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema, and Kylian Mbappe nominated for top men’s prize

The tributes to Pele continue in the form of a Brazilian musician whilst black and white pictures of Pele’s greatest moments are being shown to the audience as he plays.

Ronaldo says that Pele left an eternal legacy on football that continues to influence today’s modern players.

Pele’s wife, Marcia Aoki, is now welcomed onto the stage to receive a special award in recognition of her husband’s work and talent.

“It is a big honour to be here,” she says.

Following a video paying tribute to the footballing genius that was Pele, his compatriot Ronaldo comes onto the stage.

Pele, arguably the greatest player ever, died in December at the age of 82. Jermaine Jenas ask Ronaldo to say a few words about the Brazilian legend.

“Tonight we celebrate the best, those who make our hearts beat,” says Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantino, “We have just experienced the best World Cup, an incredible event we will never forget.

“Pele is eternal. He is with us. He will always be with us.”

The coverage of The Best Fifa Awards has started on the BBC. The hosts Samantha Johnson and Jermaine Jenas introduced Fifa President Gianni Infantino.

He gives a speech about the previous year’s footballing success and finishes off with a tribute to Pele.

It could be a big night for England’s Lionesses.

Beth Mead, Mary Earps and Sarina Wiegman are all up for individual awards whilst, Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, Keira Walsh and Ellen White are short-listed for the Best Fifa Women’s XI.

The Best Fifa Football Awards take place tonight as 2022’s football exploits are celebrated at a glamorous Paris ceremony.

The event was first held on 9 January 2017, as a rebranded revival of Fifa’s World Player of the Year awards which began in 1991 and ceased in 2009.

It is sometimes confused with the Ballon d’Or, an entirely separate prize set up by French magazine France Football in 1956.

Confusingly, the Fifa award and the France Football award merged to briefly become the Fifa Ballon d’Or between 2010 and 2015. This seemed like a simple solution which avoided having two very similar awards ceremonies in the same sport.

However, they were separated once again in 2016 and Fifa went with the simultaneously simple and instantly forgettable name of ‘The Best Fifa Football Awards’, while the Fifa Ballon d’Or returned to being just the Ballon d’Or.

So what are the key differences between the two?

The award ceremony is a little over 10 minutes away from commencing so here’s a reminder of all the nominees and the awards they’re vying to win:

Men’s Player

• Karim Benzema
• Kylian Mbappe
• Lionel Messi

Women’s Player

• Beth Mead
• Alex Morgan
• Alexia Putellas

Men’s Goalkeeper

• Yassine Bounou
• Thibaut Courtois
• Emiliano Martinez

Women’s Goalkeeper

• Ann-Katrin Berger
• Mary Earps
• Christiane Endler

Men’s Coach

• Carlo Ancelotti
• Pep Guardiola
• Lionel Scaloni

Women’s Coach

• Sonia Bompastor
• Pia Sundhage
• Sarina Wiegman