For the FIFA Best Men’s Player Award, Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel Messi have been shortlisted.
Messi scored seven goals, including twice in the World Cup final, and contributed three assists as Argentina won the tournament.
Argentina’s 36-year search for a third world championship was finally over, and Messi’s achievements in Qatar sealed his status as the best player ever.
The match between Argentina and France was decided on penalties on December 18 at Lusail Stadium, but it wasn’t for lack of effort from Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in a dramatic 3-3 draw and, like his teammate Messi of Paris Saint-Germain, also converted his spot-kick in the shoot-out.
Mbappe scored eight goals and assisted on two more during the competition, earning him the Golden Boot.
Mbappe scored 58 goals for PSG between August 8, 2021, and December 18, 2022—the time frame used to determine this year’s FIFA Best awards—the most of any player in Europe’s top five leagues.
The final shortlist includes Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who placed third on that list and won the Ballon d’Or last year. Although he was injured on the eve of the World Cup and forced to leave France’s squad, he scored 50 goals for Los Blancos and helped them win LaLiga and the Champions League.
The candidates for the Puskas Award for best goal were also confirmed by FIFA.
Both Richarlison’s breathtaking effort in Brazil’s World Cup opening against Serbia and Dimitri Payet’s spectacular half-volley in Marseille’s Europa Conference League match against PAOK in April made the cut.
Marcin Oleksy, meanwhile, joined Richarlison and Payet on the final shortlist after scoring an exquisite overhead kick for Warta Poznan amputee football against Stal Rzeszow.
On February 27, the FIFA celebration will also present the Best Women’s Player Award.
Beth Mead, who took home the Golden Boot and was voted Player of the Tournament, was essential to England’s triumph at the Women’s Euros the previous year.
Alexia Putellas, the 2017 Ballon d’Or winner, and Alex Morgan both made the list despite missing the competition due to injury.
