Messi, Haaland nominated for 2023 FIFA The Best award as Ronaldo misses out

Three of football’s biggest superstars, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe, have made the final shortlist for FIFA’s The Best Men's Player Award for 2023.

The three players have been rewarded for outstanding performances during the period under consideration, beating out a host of other big names, such as Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo, to reach the top three.

The current favourites remain Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, while Mbappe stands an outside chance.

Lionel Messi, the current holder of the FIFA Best award, is again in the running.

While his 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign falls just outside the eligibility period for the award, his achievements with Paris Saint-Germain, including winning Ligue 1 and surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo as the all-time highest goalscorer in European club football, make him a strong contender.

Erling Haaland had an extraordinary season with Manchester City, clinching the treble, which included the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League. 

His remarkable goal-scoring records and a slew of individual awards, like UEFA Men's Player of the Year, further bolster his candidacy.

Kylian Mbappe continues to be a force to be reckoned with at Paris Saint-Germain. His exceptional performances and vital role in both domestic and international competitions keep him in the spotlight as a top nominee.

The nominees were shortlisted based on their performances from December 19, 2022, to August 20, 2023.

The voting for the award is unique, involving a mix of national team coaches, captains, select journalists, and public voting through FIFA. 

Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo misses out on the shortlist for the third time in a row, despite impressive performances for Al-Nassr and the Portuguese national team.

The two-time winner of the award became the highest goalscorer in top-flight thanks to his exploits in 2023 but did not do enough to seal a place in the top three of FIFA The Best Men’s Player of the Year shortlist for 2023.