Lionel Messi (Argentina/Inter Miami), Eling Halland (Norway/Manchester City), and Kylian Mbappe (France/Paris Saint-Germain) have been nominated for the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Player of the Year award.
FIFA announced the nominees for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023 on Thursday (local time).
FIFA, which established the Player of the Year award in 1991, combined the award with the Ballon d’Or awarded by French soccer publication France Football in 2010 and named it the FIFA Ballon d’Or, before separating it from the Ballon d’Or in 2016.
The nominations for the Best Player, Goalkeeper and Manager, as well as the FIFA Fan Award, were announced today, with a panel of experts outlining their picks. Nominations for the Pushkasi Award, which recognizes the player who scores the most spectacular goal, will be released on Nov. 21.
The nomination period for the men’s awards ran from Dec. 19 last year, the conclusion of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, to Aug. 20 this year, while the women’s category ran from Aug. 1 last year to Aug. 20, the conclusion of this year’s Women’s World Cup.
There are 12 nominees for Men’s World Player of the Year, including last year’s winner, Messi.
This year, the odds are stacked in favor of Elling Holland, who led City to a triple treble in the 2022-2023 season with 52 goals in 53 official matches, including 36 goals in the English Premier League (EPL) to set a new record for most goals in a single season.
Mbappe, Julian Alvarez (Argentina, City), Marcelo Brozovic (Croatia, Inter Milan, now Alnasr), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium, City), Ilkay Gundogan (Germany, Man City, now Barcelona) and Rodri (Spain, City) are also in the running.
Hvitsa Kravatshelia (Georgia-Naples), Victor Osimhen (Nigeria-Naples), Declan Rice (England-West Ham, now Arsenal), and Bernardo Silva (Portugal-Man City) also made the list.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal-Alnasr) was not nominated after last year.
There are 16 nominees for women’s best player, including Aitana Bonmati, Salma Parajuelo (Barcelona) and Henifer Hermoso (Pachuca), who led Spain to victory at the Women’s World Cup.
Hermoso was the victim of an unwanted kiss from Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales during the World Cup awards ceremony.
World Cup runners-up England also have four nominees, including Lauren James (Chelsea).
Pep Guardiola (Man City), Simone Inzaghi (Inter Milan), Enzi Postecoglou (Celtic, now Tottenham), Luciano Spalletti (Napoli, now Italy), and Xavi (Barcelona) are up for men’s coach of the year.
Competing for the Women’s Head Coach award are Peter Järjarsson (Sweden), Jonatan Iraldez (Barcelona), Toni Gustavsson (Australia), Emma Hayes (Chelsea) and Sarina Wichmann (England).
Jorge Bilda, who led Spain to the Women’s World Cup title, is not included. Bilda, who had a close relationship with Rubiales, was sacked after the “forced kiss” incident.
Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa (Sendai, now Manchester United) was the only Asian nominee for best player, goalkeeper, or coach for both men and women.
Expanding the list to include Asian Football Confederation (AFC) nations, Miyazawa was joined by a handful of Australians, including Postecoglou and Women’s Best Player nominee Sam Kerr (Chelsea).
Jeonbuk Hyundai Advisor Park Ji-sung served as an expert panelist for the men’s category.
The winners are determined by a combination of votes from FIFA member national team managers and captains, media and fans. 스포츠토토