Argentina featured heavily in the shortlist for FIFA’s best awards following their World Cup triumph, with forwards Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez, goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and coach Lionel Scaloni receiving nominations in their categories.
Messi, along with his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, are among 14 players shortlisted for the best FIFA men’s player award, the world governing body said on Thursday.
The trio includes last year’s winner Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski, Manchester City playmaker Kevin de Bruyne and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
Barca and Arsenal dominate the women’s award with three players including Alexia Puteles, Keira Walsh and Aitana Bonmati featuring for the Spanish champions, while the English side is represented by Leah Williamson, Vivian Miedema and Beth Mead.
Chelsea pair Sam Kerr and Jesse Fleming and Olympique Lyonnais’ Ada Hegerberg and Wendy Renard also make the cut.
Sarina Wigman, who led England to Euros success last year, is on the best FIFA women’s coach shortlist by Chelsea’s Emma Hayes and Germany manager Martina Voss-Tecklenberg.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola have been nominated for the men’s award alongside Argentina’s Scaloni, France boss Didier Deschamps and Moroccan manager Walid Regargui.
Liverpool’s Alisson Becker, Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois and Aston Villa’s Martinez are among the nominees for the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award.
FIFA said it would announce the three finalists in each category in early February.
FIFA also announced an 11-player shortlist for this year’s Puskás Award for the ‘most beautiful’ goal of the year, with Mbappe’s stunning volley against Argentina in the World Cup final among the nominees.
The text of this story is published from a wire agency feed without any modification. Only the headline has been changed.
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