World Cup winner, Lionel Messi alongside runner-up, Kylian Mbappé, has been shortlisted for FIFA’s ‘The Best’ award for last year.
This was announced by the world football’s governing body on Thursday.
Messi is tipped to win the prize following his World Cup victory with Argentina last December.
Also, Mbappé who netted a hat-trick in the World Cup final is another player in position for the prize.
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Others include two Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) players: Neymar Jr. and Achraf Hakimi.
Karim Benzema, who won last year’s Ballon d’Or for his performances with Real Madrid, is also nominated, as is Robert Lewandowski, winner of the FIFA prize in the last two years.
The list of nominees is completed by Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland; the Real Madrid pair of Luka Modric and Vinicius Junior; Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Jude Bellingham.
Alexia Putellas is nominated for the women’s award despite being out for the last six months due to injury.
The Barcelona and Spain midfielder won the award last year and retained the Ballon d’Or in October.
Arsenal striker Beth Mead, runner-up to Putellas for the Ballon d’Or, is also nominated, as are two other members of the England team that won the European Championship on home soil in Leah Williamson and Keira Walsh.
There are also prizes for the best male and female coach, the best goalkeeper, and the Puskas Award for the best goal of 2022.
A public vote, open until February 3, will decide the three finalists in each category.
The winner is then voted for by a jury made up of national team coaches and captains as well as journalists and fans.
The list of Best FIFA Men’s Player Nominees is as follows:
Julián Álvarez (Argentina – Manchester City)
Jude Bellingham (England – Borussia Dortmund)
Karim Benzema (France – Real Madrid)
Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium – Manchester City)
Erling Haaland (Norway – Manchester City)
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco – PSG)
Robert Lewandowski (Poland – FC Barcelona)
Sadio Mané (Senegal – Bayern Munich)
Kylian Mbappé (France – PSG)
Lionel Messi (Argentina – PSG)
Luka Modric (Croatia – Real Madrid)
Neymar Jr. (Brazil – PSG)
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