Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe have emerged as the frontrunners for FIFA’s The Best Men’s Player award. The list of 12 nominees also includes Declan Rice, who helped West Ham United to the UEFA Europa Conference League title, and Man City’s Julián Álvarez, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gündogan, Rodri, and Bernardo Silva.
Should Messi emerge victorious, he would win the title for a record third time, adding to his victories in 2019 and 2022. Most notably, the Inter Miami star led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar last year. Still, he faces stiff competition from the likes of Haaland, who scored 52 goals this year and helped Man City to the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup treble.
Voting for the award opened on Thursday and will close in mid-October. The list of voters includes national team coaches, captains, journalists, and fans.
