Messi, Mbappe and Benzema battle for FIFA Best Player award
ZURICH — It’s Lionel Messi vs. Kylian Mbappe once more, this time for the FIFA Best Men’s Player award for 2022.
Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain and France’s famous person ahead head the three-player shortlist introduced by FIFA on Friday, eight weeks after main their groups in an epic ultimate in Qatar.
Karim Benzema accomplished the highest three within the voting by a worldwide panel of nationwide staff captains and coaches plus chosen journalist in every of FIFA’s 211 member nations, in addition to followers voting on-line.
In the Best Women’s Player award, Beth Mead of England, Alex Morgan of the United States and Spain’s Alexia Putellas had been on the shortlist voted for by a separate international voting panel.
The winners will likely be introduced at a Feb. 27 ceremony in Paris.
Messi edged Mbappe for the Golden Ball awarded by FIFA as the most effective participant on the World Cup. Croatia captain Luka ModriÄ positioned third in that contest.
Another duel is anticipated for the Paris Saint-Germain teammates with Messi favored to get a seventh win in FIFA’s annual particular person prize. Mbappe seeks his first.
Messi gained his six earlier awards when it was known as the FIFA World Player of the Year (2009), the FIFA Ballon d’Or in annually from 2010-12 and once more in 2015, then within the present title of Best FIFA Men’s Player for 2019
Mbappe makes the shortlist for the primary time although he was fourth in voting for the 2018 award. The 24-year-old has been sixth, seventh and eighth in previous three years.
Robert Lewandowski gained the FIFA award for the previous two years.
The extra prestigious Ballon d’Or award organized by France Football journal was gained in October by Karim Benzema forward of the World Cup. The France ahead missed the event due to an harm. Messi was not on the lengthy checklist of Ballon d’Or candidates introduced in August.
The Best Women’s Player award for 2021 was gained by Putellas and the Barcelona playmaker made the highest three once more regardless of being injured days earlier than the European Championship and lacking the event for Spain.
Mead led England to the Euro 2022 title because the event’s joint high scorer and was named its finest participant. She suffered a severe knee harm in November enjoying for Arsenal and will miss the Women’s World Cup that begins in July, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Morgan, who was second within the 2019 vote to teammate Megan Rapinoe, was participant of the event when the U.S. gained the CONCACAF W Championship final 12 months. She was additionally the joint high scorer.
