Norway’s Erling Haaland, Frenchman Kylian Mbappé and Argentina’s Lionel Messi are finalists for the Best FIFA Football Awards’ Player of the Year, the International Federation of Football announced on Thursday.
The 23-year-old Haaland made a significant impact in Manchester City’s Champions League, English Premier League and FA Cup triple success. The Norwegian striker netted 52 goals in 53 matches, 12 of them in the Champions League.
Mbappé, aged 24, and Messi, now 36, secured the French championship with Paris Saint-Germain. The Argentinean added to his honours by joining Inter Miami in July and helping it win the Leagues Cup, a tournament involving American and Mexican clubs.
Mbappé ended the past season with 41 goals from 43 matches in all competitions. Messi concluded his PSG stint with 21 goals in 41 matches before scoring 11 in 14 games with Inter Miami. He won his eighth Ballon d’Or in late October.
In the women’s category, finalists include 25-year-old midfielder Aitana Bonmati from FC Barcelona and 33-year-old striker Jennifer Hermoso from Pachuca, both from Spain and world champions, along with 18-year-old Colombian Linda Caicedo from Real Madrid.
Bonmati, who helped FC Barcelona win the Women’s Champions League and the Spanish league, has already received the Women’s Ballon d’Or.
The winners will be unveiled at The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony in London on 15 January 2024.
The panel includes national team managers, team captains, a select group of journalists, and the public, who had the opportunity to vote on FIFA’s website. Each group accounts for 25% of the votes.
The award recognises performances made between 19 December 2022 and 20 August 2023 for men’s football, and between 1 August 2022 and 20 August 2023 for women’s football.
