Lionel Messi, has been named in the nominees for the 2023 FIFA Best Men’s Player award. The Inter Miami star finds himself in the top running of yet another award alongside, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. However, sespite winning the FIFA World Cup 2022, Lionel Messi moght bot win the FIFA Best Player award.
FIFA has announced that the qualifying dates for The Best Men’s Player have begun on December 19th. The very next day following the World Cup final. As a result, Lionel Messi’s World Cup victory will have no bearing on his prospects of winning the trophy.
“The 12 contenders have been nominated based on their achievements from 19 December 2022 to 20 August 2023, with each of the nominees recognised for their sustained excellence over that period. ” the FIFA Website read.
Lionel Messi, who won the prestigious title last year, has been selected following a strong start in Major League Soccer (MLS). Before joining Inter Miami, the 36-year-old scored 16 Ligue 1 goals and assisted on 16 others in his final season in Paris. Messi is only the third player in men’s international football history to reach a century of goals.
Lionel Messi and Argentina won the FIFA World Cup last year. Messi, on the other hand, is not a favourite for the prestigious prize this year. Haaland had a trophy-laden first season with Manchester City. Last season, the Norwegian international scored six Premier League hat-tricks. The Champions League winner scored 52 goals in 53 games for Manchester City during his treble-winning season.
The nominees for FIFA The Best Player are:
- Julian Alvarez
- Marcelo Brozovic
- Kevin De Bruyne
- Ilkay Gundogan
- Erling Haaland
- Rodri
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
- Kylian Mbappe
- Lionel Messi
- Victor Osimhen
- Declan Rice
- Bernardo Silva