Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel Messi confirmed as top-three The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award 2023 nominees
FIFA has revealed the three finalists for The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award 2023, recognizing outstanding performers in men’s football from December 19, 2022, to August 20, 2023.
The finalists are Erling Haaland Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel Messi. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on January 15, 2024.
- Erling Haaland:
- Haaland, Manchester City’s prolific striker, showcased an incredible goal-scoring form during the qualifying period. He played a crucial role in City’s historic treble, lifting the UEFA Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup trophies.
- In 33 games across these competitions, Haaland scored 28 goals, demonstrating his pace, power, and clinical finishing. Despite being just 23 years old, he received several individual awards, including the European Golden Shoe and the English Premier League Golden Boot.
- Kylian Mbappe:
- The French forward continued his stellar performances from the FIFA World Cup 2022 final into domestic action. Returning to Paris Saint-Germain in December 2022, Mbappe contributed significantly to PSG’s eighth Ligue 1 title in the last 11 years.
- Scoring 17 goals in the final 20 league games, Mbappe secured the Ligue 1 Player of the Year and top scorer honors. His remarkable run included a stretch of nine goals in six matches.
- Lionel Messi:
- After leading Argentina to victory in the FIFA World Cup, Messi helped PSG secure another Ligue 1 title. He was named in the Ligue 1 team of the season and topped the assists chart.
- In a surprising move, Messi joined Inter Miami in July, marking a new chapter in his illustrious career. The 36-year-old, who has won every major domestic and international honor, continues to captivate football fans globally.
The finalists were selected from an initial list of 12 players by an international jury comprising national team coaches, national team captains, football journalists, and fans. The winner will be determined based on voting, with each voting group’s selections accounting for 25% of the total vote.
The award ceremony will take place on January 15, 2024, in London, where the recipient of The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award will be announced. In case of a tie, the player with the most first-choice selections will be honored. Independent observers supervise the voting procedure. Results will be published on FIFA.com after the ceremony.
