Messi, Ronaldo top list of nominees for FIFA The Best Awards
Tuchel, Guardiola, Scaloni nominated for The Best manager award
The list of the final 11 nominees for the 2021 FIFA The Best Men’s Player Award was released on Monday, and it contained the names of the usual suspects, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
After Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski claimed the 2020 FIFA The Best Men’s Player Award for his excellent performance in Bayern’s treble-winning campaign, the Polish striker headlined the list for the 2021 FIFA The Best Award again, after scoring 48 goals in 40 appearances for Bayern Munich last season.
Chelsea duo of Jorginho and N’Golo Kante were included in the shortlist after completing superb individual seasons for the club, which culminated in the UEFA Champions League trophy. Jorginho also played a key role as Italy won Euro 2020 in the summer.
Eternal rivals Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo also made the shortlist alongside Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, PSG ace Neymar, Karim Benzema, Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and French sensation Kylian Mbappe.
In the category of managers, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel was included alongside Pep Guardiola of Manchester City, Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid, Lionel Scaloni of Argentina, Jurgen Klopp, Hansi Flick, Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini.
Chelsea and Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, Brazil and Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, Italy and PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Leicester City and Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, and Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer were shortlisted for the Goalkeeper of the Year award.
The winners will be announced and given their awards on January 17th 2022. Voting has been opened on November 22nd and will close on December 10th 2021.
