After having Football fans debating for the previous decades who is the greatest of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, it seems that debate has already ended. On Thursday FIFA announced the nominees for the Best FIFA Awards 2022. Lionel Messi is leading the 14-man shortlist for the Best FIFA Men’s player award.
The Argentine, who is fresh from leading his country to World Cup glory In the Qatar World Cup 2022 is widely seen as the favorite to take the crown. His seven goals in Qatar played a key role in Argentina’s title-winning tournament in Qatar.
Lionel Messi’s seven goals in Qatar played a key role in Argentina’s title-winning tournament in Qatar.
Just like in Qatar in the final between France and Argentina, Messi faces off with his Paris Saint Germain ( PSG ) teammate Kylian Mbappe for the prestigious award. Neymar, Achraf Hakimi, Luka Modric, Karim Benzema, Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski, Sadio Mane, and Mohamed Salah among others are also vying for the same crown.
Full list of Nominees and Categories
Best Fifa Men’s Player
Julián Álvarez (Argentina, River Plate , Manchester City FC)
Jude Bellingham (England , BV Borussia 09 Dortmund)
Karim Benzema (France , Real Madrid CF)
Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium, Manchester City FC)
Erling Haaland (Norway , BV Borussia 09 Dortmund, Manchester City FC)
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain)
Robert Lewandowski (Poland , FC Bayern München , FC Barcelona)
Sadio Mané (Senegal, Liverpool FC, FC Bayern München)
Kylian Mbappé (France , Paris Saint-Germain)
Lionel Messi (Argentina, Paris Saint-Germain)
Luka Modrić (Croatia, Real Madrid CF)
Neymar (Brazil , Paris Saint-Germain)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool FC)
Vinícius Junior (Brazil , Real Madrid CF)
Best Fifa Women’s Player
Aitana Bonmatí (Spain, FC Barcelona)
Debinha (Brazil, North Carolina Courage)
Jessie Fleming (Canada, Chelsea FC Women)
Ada Hegerberg (Norway, Olympique Lyonnais)
Sam Kerr (Australia, Chelsea FC Women)
Beth Mead (England, Arsenal WFC)
Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands, Arsenal WFC)
Alex Morgan (USA, Orlando Pride, San Diego Wave)
Lena Oberdorf (Germany ,VfL Wolfsburg)
Alexandra Popp (Germany, VfL Wolfsburg)
Alexia Putellas (Spain, FC Barcelona)
Wendie Renard (France, Olympique Lyonnais)
Keira Walsh (England, Manchester City WFC, FC Barcelona)
Leah Williamson (England, Arsenal WFC
Best Fifa Men’s Goalkeeper
· Álisson Becker (Brazil, Liverpool FC)
· Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Sevilla FC)
· Thibaut Courtois (Belgium, Real Madrid CF)
· Ederson (Brazil, Manchester City FC)
· Emiliano Martínez (Argentina , Aston Villa FC)
Best Fifa Men’s Coach list
Carlo Ancelotti (Italy, Real Madrid CF)
Didier Deschamps (France , French National Team)
Pep Guardiola (Spain, Manchester City FC)
Walid Regragui (Morocco, Wydad AC / Moroccan National Team)
Lionel Scaloni (Argentina / Argentinia National Team)
Best Fifa Women’s Coach
Sonia Bompastor (France, Olympique Lyonnais)
Emma Hayes (England, Chelsea FC Women)
Bev Priestman (England, Canadian National Team)
Pia Sundhage (Sweden, Brazilian National Team)
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg (Germany, German National Team)
Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands, English National Team)
The Puskas Award
Mario Balotelli (Italy): Adana Demirspor v. Göztepe Spor Kulübü [Süper Lig] (22 May 2022)
Amandine Henry (France): FC Barcelona v. Olympique Lyonnais [UEFA Women’s Champions League] (21 May 2022)
Théo Hernández (France): AC Milan v. Atalanta [Serie A] (15 May 2022)
Alou Kuol (Australia): Iraq U23 v. Australia U23 [AFC U23 Asian Cup] (4 June 2022)
Kylian Mbappé (France): Argentina v. France [FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™] (18 December 2022)
Francisco González Metilli (Argentina): Club Atlético Central Córdoba v. Club Atlético Rosario Central [Primera División] (1 August 2022)
Marcin Oleksy (Poland): Warta Poznań v. Stal Rzeszów [PZU Amp Futbol Ekstraklasa] (6 November 2022)
Salma Paralluelo (Spain): FC Barcelona v. Villarreal CF [Liga F] (2 April 2022)
Dimitri Payet (France): Olympique de Marseille v. PAOK Thessaloniki [UEFA Europa Conference League] (7 April 2022)
Richarlison (Brazil): Brazil v. Serbia [FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022] (24 November 2022)
Alessia Russo (England): England v. Sweden [UEFA Women’s EURO 2022] (26 July 2022)
Best Fan Award
Abdullah Al Salmi (Saudi Arabia): Abdullah journeyed by foot from his hometown of Jeddah to Qatar, hiking across the Saudi Arabian desert, to support his national team at the FIFA World Cup.
Argentinian National Team fans (Argentina): Argentina fans travel to Qatar in impressive numbers to provide incredible support for their team’s ultimate victorious FIFA World Cup campaign, and millions of fans come welcome their heroes home to Buenos Aires and across the country
Japanese National Team fans (Japan): Japan fans earn worldwide recognition for their tradition of staying behind to help clean the stadium after World Cup games.
