The 2024 Golden Foot Awards have been won by a cohort of talented international players, including Argentine and Inter Milan player Lautaro Martínez, who will now add his footprints to the Champions Promenade in Larvotto.
The 21st edition of the Golden Foot Awards, held in Monaco on 31st October, was a star-studded affair. Football icons from around the world travelled to the Principality for the event and joined Antonio Caliendo, the president and founder of the Awards, the day before for a special pre-ceremony press conference.
The Golden Foot Awards celebrate sporting excellence, honouring both the achievements of individual players and the legacy of the sport. Only players over the age of 28 can be nominated for an award. Previous winners include the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Franco Baresi, Didier Drogba, and Ryan Giggs.
Speaking at the pre-awards event, Fabio Cannavaro, who won a Golden Foot Award in 2018, told Monaco Life, “Winning the Golden Foot Award is such an important moment for all players; it’s really an unbeatable occasion.”
Cannavaro was later awarded a Golden Foot Legend award alongside Gerard Piqué, Rui Costa and Fernando Llorente.
Among the big names nominated for a 2024 Golden Foot were Kevin De Bruyne, Harry Kane, Thomas Müller, Neymar Jr., Antoine Griezmann, Virgil van Dijk, Marco Verratti, Karim Benzema, Lautaro Martínez and Lionel Messi. Despite his numerous accolades, Messi is yet to win a Golden Foot, and many commentators thought that 2024 would be his year. Instead, the honour went to his fellow Argentine, Lautaro Martínez, who currently plays for Inter Milan.
Martínez, who was unfortunately unable to attend the event, will soon be invited to add his footprints to Monaco’s Champions Promenade, where the winners’ footprints are permanently imprinted.
He expressed his gratitude via video link, saying, “The first words that come to mind are: thank you. I am happy to share this award with my family, my friends and all the people who have always supported me.”
Other winners on the night included Japan’s Saki Kumagai, who has won the Champions League an impressive five times.
“I hope my achievement today inspires little girls to seek careers in the football industry because anything is possible for us women,” said Kumagai.
Golden Foot Legends Café Museum
At the press conference, it was confirmed that plans are underway for the creation of a Golden Foot Legends Café Museum in Monaco. The sports bar will be a two-storey, 600sqm space near the Champions Promenade, featuring the latest interactive technologies, including holograms, mobile applications, and 3D billboards, to facilitate interaction between the public and top athletes.
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Photo credit: Image Promotion Company SAM – Golden Foot