FIFA Best Awards: Haaland, Mbappe, Messi in Final Shortlist  

Femi Solaja  with agency report

Odds are in the favour of Norway and Manchester City forward, Erling Haaland,  to win the 2023 FIFA Best Award scheduled to be announced in January.

However, the gangling Norwegian will have to contend with France and PSG forward, Kylian Mbappe, and Argentina and Inter Miami icon, Lionel Messi.

All three  have been shortlisted for the men’s player of the year at the 2023 FIFA Best awards.

In the female category, Aitana Bonmati, Linda Caicedo and Jennifer Hermoso are the finalists for the award.

Julio Enciso, Guilherme Madruga and Nuno Santos were selected as the final three for the Puskas award, which is for the best goal of the year.

The winners will be announced on Monday, 15 January in London.

Haaland, Mbappe, as well as Messi, were chosen from an initial list of 12.

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Bonmati, 18-year-old Colombia and Real Madrid forward Caicedo, as well as Spain and Pachuca forward Hermoso, were shortlisted from 16 players.

The women’s award is for performances from 1 August 2022 to 20 August 2023 and includes Spain’s 2023 World Cup victory.

The men’s award is for between 19 December 2022 – a day after the men’s 2022 World Cup final – to 20 August 2023.

National team coaches, captains, journalists and fans make up the list of voters.

Best Men’s players

Erling Haaland (Norway/Man City)

Kylian Mbappe (France/Paris St-Germain)

Lionel Messi (Argentina/Inter Miami)

Best Women’s players

Aitana Bonmati (Spain/Barcelona)

Linda Caicedo (Colombia/Real Madrid)

Jenni Hermoso (Spain/Pachuca)