FIFA has announced the shortlist of three players contending for its Best Men’s Player award: Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland.
Recall that the football governoring body had previously released a list of 12 nominees in September.
The final three candidates were determined by an international jury consisting of men’s national team coaches and captains, journalists, and fans who voted on FIFA’s website.
Messi, the defending champion from 2022 after leading Argentina to World Cup victory and securing Ligue 1 success with Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Inter Miami, aims to retain the title.
Mbappe, despite leading France to the finals in Qatar and contributing significantly as PSG claimed the top-flight title, ended as a finalist.
Haaland made a substantial impact during Manchester City’s dominant 2022/23 season, securing a treble and setting multiple records with 52 goals across all competitions, including 36 in the Premier League, a new single-season record.
Messi previously won the award in 2022, breaking Robert Lewandowski’s consecutive wins in 2020 and 2021.
