FIFA launches voting for top prizes with release of shortlisted names

January 13 - FIFA have revealed the list of finalists for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2022, with Lionel Messi being the name that stands out among the male nominees.

No one could have been better placed for this award than seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, who has only won the Best FIFA award once (in 2019) and led his country in a compelling way to victory in the World Cup. in Qatar.

His biggest challenge will likely come from his PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick for France in the World Cup final against Messi's Argentina to win the Golden Boot - beating Messi by a goal but returning with second place in the general classification.

Nominations in the player category include three of England's top European Championship sides - Beth Mead, Keira Walsh and Leah Williamson - and 10 of the 14 nominees from European nations. America's dominance in women's soccer has taken another hit, with only Alex Morgan on the shortlist.

Two panels of experts, one for women's football and the other for men's football, selected the candidates for the players, goalkeepers and coaches categories. Public voting is open on FIFA+ and will continue until midnight (CET) on February 3. FIFA will announce the three finalists in each of the seven categories listed above in early February 2023.

The full list of nominees by category is listed below:

The 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)

The Best FIFA Men's Player:

Julián Álvarez (Argentina / Club Atlético 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 FC) Robert Lewandowski (Poland / FC Bayern München / FC Barcelona) Sadio Mané (Senegal / Liverpool FC / FC Bayern München) Kylian Mbappé (France / Paris Saint-Germain FC) Lionel Messi (Argentina / Paris Saint-Germain FC) Luka Modric (Croatia / Real Madrid CF) Neymar (Brazil / Paris Saint-Germain FC) Mohamed Salah (Egypt / Liverpool FC) Vinicius Junior (Brazil / Real Madrid CF)

The 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 Best FIFA Men's Coach:

Carlo Ancelotti (Italy / Real Madrid CF) Didier Deschamps (France / French team) Pep Guardiola (Spain / Manchester City FC) Walid Regragui (Morocco / Wydad AC / Moroccan National Team) Lionel Scaloni (Argentina / Argentina National Team)

The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper:

Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany / Chelsea FC Women) Mary Earps (England/Manchester United WFC) Christiane Endler (Chile / Olympique Lyonnais) Merle Frohms (Germany / Eintracht Frankfurt / VfL Wolfsburg) Alyssa Naeher (USA/Chicago Red Stars) Sandra Paños García-Villamil (Spain / FC Barcelona)

The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper:

Alisson Becker (Brazil / Liverpool FC) Yassine Bounou (Morocco / Sevilla FC) Thibaut Courtois (Belgium / Real Madrid CF) Ederson (Brazil / Manchester City FC) Emiliano Martinez (Argentina / Aston Villa FC)

The FIFA Puskás Award:

Mario Balotelli (https://bit.ly/3GBu1kb) (Italy):