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Haaland, Mbappe and Messi lead Men's FIFA The Best shortlist

By primenewsghana
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Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé lead the 12-player shortlist for FIFA's The Best Men's Player nominees.

Argentina captain Messi, now playing for MLS side Inter Miami, is aiming to win the award for a record third time having been given the honour in 2019 and 2022.

But despite helping Argentina to World Cup glory at Qatar 2022, Messi faces stiff competition from Manchester City forward Haaland after the Norway international scored 52 goals as Pep Guardiola's side completed a Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble last season.

Julián Álvarez, Marcelo Brozovic, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gündogan, Rodri, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Victor Osimhen and Bernardo Silva make up the shortlist alongside Messi, Haaland, Mbappe and Rice.

Spain, who won the Women's World Cup for the first time in Australia last month, have four players on the 12-name shortlist for women's award with Aitana Bonmatí, Jenni Hermoso, Mapi León and Salma Paralluelo all in the race to succeed La Roja midfielder Alexia Putellas by winning the trophy.

Linda Caicedo, Rachel Daly, Kadidiatou Diani, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Alex Greenwood, Amanda Ilestedt, Lauren James, Sam Kerr, Hinata Miyazawa and Keira Walsh are also nominated, with Lindsey Horan the only United States player making it onto the shortlist.

Voting for the eighth annual awards opened on Thursday on FIFA.com and closes in mid-October. National team coaches, captains, journalists and fans make up the list of voters.

FULL LIST OF BEST FIFA MEN’S PLAYER NOMINEES

  • Julian Alvarez (Manchester City & Argentina)
  • Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan & Croatia - now plays for Al Nassr)
  • Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City & Belgium)
  • Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City & Germany - now plays for Barcelona)
  • Erling Haaland (Manchester City & Norway)
  • Rodri (Manchester City & Spain)
  • Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli & Georgia)
  • Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain & France)
  • Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain & Argentina - now plays for Inter Miami)
  • Victor Osimhen (Napoli & Nigeria)
  • Declan Rice (West Ham & England - now plays for Arsenal)
  • Bernardo Silva (Manchester City & Portugal)
The Women's prize will take into account the 2023 Women's World Cup, with the award taking into consideration achievements from August 1, 2022 to August 20, 2023, meaning that Bonmati is the heavy favourite.
The Spaniard won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player at the World Cup after winning it with Spain and was Barcelona's star player in their Liga F and Champions League wins.
 
Several England players have picked up nominations, including Keira Walsh, Bonmati's Barcelona team-mate, Rachel Daly, Alex Greenwood and Lauren James who had a breakout World Cup despite being suspended for two knockout matches.
 

FULL LIST OF BEST FIFA WOMEN'S PLAYER NOMINEES

  • Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona & Spain)
  • Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid & Colombia)
  • Rachel Daly (Aston Villa & England)
  • Kadidiatou Diani (Paris Saint-Germain & France - now plays for Lyon)
  • Caitlin Foord (Arsenal & Australia)
  • Mary Fowler (Manchester City & Australia)
  • Alex Greenwood (Manchester City & England)
  • Jennifer Hermoso (Pachuca & Spain)
  • Lindsey Horan (Lyon & United States of America)
  • Amanda Ilestedt (Paris Saint-Germain & Sweden - now plays for Arsenal)
  • Lauren James (Chelsea & England)
  • Sam Kerr (Chelsea & Australia)
  • Mapi Leon (Barcelona & Spain)
  • Hinata Miyazawa (MyNavi Sendai & Japan - now plays for Manchester United)
  • Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona & Spain)
  • Keira Walsh (Barcelona & England)
In the Men's Coach awards, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola features, as do Inter Milan's Simone Inzaghe, Ange Postecoglou, previously at Celtic but now at Tottenham, and Luciano Spalletti - manager of Italy but winner of last year's Serie A with Napoli. The list is completed by Xavi of Barcelona.

FULL LIST OF BEST FIFA MEN'S COACH NOMINEES

  • Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)
  • Simone Inzaghi (Inter Milan)
  • Ange Postecoglou (Tottenham)
  • Luciano Spalletti (Italy)
  • Xavi (Barcelona)
In the Women's Coach awards, England's Sarina Wiegman is recognised, as is Chelsea's Emma Hayes and Barcelona's Jonatan Giraldez. There are nominations for Sweden's Peter Gerhardsson and Australia's Tony Gustavsson, too.

FULL LIST OF BEST FIFA WOMEN'S COACH NOMINEES

  • Peter Gerhardsson (Sweden)
  • Jonatan Giraldez (Barcelona)
  • Tony Gustavsson (Australia)
  • Emma Hayes (Chelsea)
  • Sarina Wiegman (England)