Paris Saint Germaine (PSG) superstars Kylian Mbppe and Lionel Messi lead the list of nominees for the FIFA Best Award.
The list of nominees shows the two titans among 14 of the world’s top performers over the last 12 months.
The PSG pair have been having a remarkable season this year both at the club and international levels, which has already climaxed at the recently concluded World Cup finals in Qatar.
Both Mbappe and Messi were undoubtedly the standouts at that tournament with Mbappe claiming the golden for nine goals and Messi walking away with the MVP award along with the Cup for Argentina.
While both are expected to be front runners for the title which is likely to be as close at that Cup final in December they will also face stern competition from their fellow contenders.
The other nominees on the list include last year’s winner; new Barcelona acquisition; Robert Lewandowski and reining Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema from European champs Real Madrid.
Competition is also expected to be tough on the best coaching category with Argentina World Cup-winning coach Lionel Scaloni going up against former Cup winner and finalist Didier Deschamps for France as well as Real Madrid’s all-conquering manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Voting is now open to all on the FIFA website and closes on 3 February, with the three finalists in each category to be announced later in the month
The winner is set to be announced on February 27.
Best Men’s Player Full list
Julian Alvarez (Argentina/Club Atletico River Plate/Manchester City)
Jude Bellingham (England/Borussia Dortmund)
Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid)
Kevin de Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City)
Erling Haaland (Norway/Borussia Dortmund/Manchester City)
Achraf Hakimi (Spain/Paris Saint-Germain)
Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich/Barcelona)
Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool/Bayern Munich)
Kylian Mbappe (France/Paris Saint-Germain)
Lionel Messi (Argentina/Paris Saint-Germain)
Luka Modric (Croatia/Real Madrid)
Neymar (Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool)
Vinicius Junior (Brazil/Real Madrid)
Full list of Best Men’s Coach
Carlo Ancelotti (Italy/Real Madrid)
Didier Deschamps (France/French national team)
Pep Guardiola (Spain/Manchester City)
Walid Regragui (Morocco/ Wydad AC/ Moroccan)
Lionel Scaloni (Argentina/ Argentinian national team)
Best Men’s Goalkeeper
Alisson Becker (Brazil/Liverpool) Yassine Bounou (Morocco/ Sevilla)
Thibaut Courtois (Belgium/Real Madrid) Ederson (Brazil/Manchester City)
Emiliano Martinez (Argentina/Aston Villa)
Best Women’s Player
Aitana Bonmati (Spain/Barcelona), Debinha (Brazil/North Carolina Courage)
Jessie Fleming (Canada/Chelsea), Ada Hegerberg (Norway/Lyon)
Sam Kerr (Australia/Chelsea) Beth Mead (England/Arsenal)
Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands/Arsenal), Alex Morgan (USA/Orlando Pride/San Diego Wave)
Lena Oberdorf (Germany/Wolfsburg), Alexandra Popp (Germany/Wolfsburg)
Alexia Putellas (Spain/Barcelona), Wendie Renard (France/Lyon)
Keira Walsh (England/Manchester City/Barcelona), Leah Williamson (England/Arsenal)
