Erling Haaland has been nominated alongside Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi for The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award 2023.
The Manchester City striker enjoyed a prolific first season in England, netting 52 goals in all competitions as Pep Guardiola’s men claimed the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup treble.
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He also won the European Golden Shoe, the English Premier League Golden Boot, and the rare double of being named English Premier League Player and Young Player of the season.
Not all 52 goals will count towards the award, however, with the eligible period for assessment not starting until after the World Cup final on December 18 and running to August 20.
#TheBest FIFA Men’s Player Finalists! 🏆🤩
🇳🇴 Erling Haaland
🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappe
🇦🇷 Lionel MessiLearn more about the final three. 👀🧵
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 14, 2023
That August date is significant as that was the day Messi led Inter Miami to their first piece of silverware, the Leagues Cup, with a penalty shoot-out win over Nashville. Prior to that the Argentina captain had played a diminishing role as Paris Saint-Germain won the Ligue 1 title.
As Messi’s influence in the French capital waned, Mbappe’s grew.
The Ligue 1 Player of the Year scored 17 times over the last 20 league games to get PSG over the line.
The women’s nominations are led by Spanish duo Aitana Bonmati and Jenni Hermoso with Colombia’s Linda Caicedo also in the mix.
#TheBest FIFA Women’s Player Finalists! 🏆🤩
🇪🇸 Aitana Bonmati
🇨🇴 Linda Caicedo
🇪🇸 Jennifer HermosoLearn more about the final three. 👀🧵
— FIFA Women’s World Cup (@FIFAWWC) December 14, 2023
Bonmati is the overwhelming favourite after playing a prominent role in Spain’s World Cup triumph in Australia and New Zealand, as well as Barcelona’s domestic and continental treble.
Individually, over the period August 2022-August 2023 (different to the men), she also won the Women’s World Cup Golden Ball, UEFA Women’s Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or.
Former Barcelona star Hermoso, who now plays for Mexican side Pachuca, was another stand-out for Spain, albeit her tournament was tarnished by the Luis Rubiales scandal that followed that triumph.
Caicedo, 18, is one of the women’s game’s growing stars.
She played in three World Cups in the space of a year, winning awards at both the U-17 and senior finals, and scooped the Copa America Femenina Golden Ball in between.
