Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappé or Lionel Messi will be named FIFA Player of the Year award by FIFA at the end of this month. The three attackers are the only players left on the longlist, which consisted of fourteen names. Benzema, 35, won the Ballon d’Or for Player of the Year in October last year. This election is organized by France Football. Free bets on who to win can be placed by several bookies. FIFA worked with the French magazine for several years, but the world football association has had its own election since 2017.
Nominees FIFA Player of the Year award
The nominees at FIFA are determined on the basis of performances between August 8, 2021 and December 18, 2022, the day of the World Cup final. National coaches, captains of the national teams, football journalists and fans could vote. Benzema was in a class of his own at Real Madrid last season. The French striker scored 44 times in 46 official matches and thus had a large share in the strong season of the Madrilenians, who won the Champions League and became national champions, among other things. Due to an injury, Benzema missed the World Cup with losing finalist France.
Messi and Mbappé impressed during World Cup
His compatriot Mbappé can also provide excellent figures at his club – 39 goals and 26 assists in 46 matches at Paris Saint-Germain – but the 24-year-old Frenchman also made a big impression during the World Cup. Mbappé became the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals and became the first player in 56 years to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.
FIFA Gala
Messi, 35, led Argentina in Qatar at the expense of France to its first world title since 1986. The legendary striker was also named the best player of the World Cup. Messi also became national champion with Paris Saint-Germain. The winner will be announced on February 27 during the FIFA gala. Earlier this week, nominations in a few other categories were announced. For example, Sarina Wiegman is on the shortlist for Coach of the Year in women’s football. The Dutch led England to the European title in their own country last summer.