FIFA’s 2024 ‘The Best’ Football Awards candidates have been revealed, honoring the best men’s and women’s football players at the club and national levels each year. The nominees include Argentina great Lionel Messi and Rodri, the winner of the Ballon d’Or.
In a shocking turn of events for the world of football, Lionel Messi has been nominated for FIFA’s Best Men’s Football Player award. Messi made it to the FIFA The Best shortlist, which is shocking considering he wasn’t even in the top 30 for the Ballon d’Or shortlist. Regarding the other contenders, we anticipate seeing names like Jude Bellingham, Rodri, Vinicius Jr., Florian Wirtz, Erling Haaland, Dani Carvajal, and others on the list. Additionally, it should be mentioned that the award will be considered from August 21, 2023, to August 10, 2024.
Messi, who currently plays football for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, has scored 30 goals in 38 appearances this season (for both club and country). Additionally, he has recorded 19 assists thus far this season.
Messi’s lone noteworthy accomplishment during the award consideration period was Argentina’s victory in the Copa America 2024. Apart from that, Messi hasn’t accomplished anything noteworthy with his team, Inter Miami, throughout this time.
On the other side, Messi’s longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo is not listed at all. Ronaldo scored 49 goals and provided seven assists in 49 games for the Saudi Arabian team Al-Nassr this season. However, Ronaldo, like Messi, failed to win any major titles with his team while he was being considered for the Best FIFA Men’s Player Award.
Nominees for the Best FIFA Men’s Player:
Dani Carvajal – Real Madrid
Erling Haaland – Manchester City
Federico Valverde – Real Madrid
Florian Wirtz – Bayer Leverkusen
Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid
Toni Kroos – Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe – PSG/Real Madrid
Lamine Yamal – Barcelona
Lionel Messi – Inter Miami
Rodri – Manchester City
Vinicius Jr. – Real Madrid
Messi is unlikely to place among the top three players when the winner is revealed, despite the fact that he has unexpectedly entered the shortlist. The leading contenders are Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. and Rodri, who has already won the Ballon d’Or.
