PARIS: Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are among the candidates for FIFA's The Best award for last year, the international football's governing body revealed on Thursday, following their outstanding World Cup performances.
Messi, who has already won the award, led Argentina to victory in Qatar, a victory that defined his career and increased his prospects of earning an eighth Ballon d'Or while also making him a possible favourite for this award.
The other two Paris Saint-Germain players vying for the award are Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final, and Neymar and Achraf Hakimi.
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Both Robert Lewandowski, who won the FIFA award in the previous two years, and Karim Benzema, who took home the Ballon d'Or last year for his exploits with Real Madrid, are up for nomination.
Julian Alvarez, Kevin De Bruyne, and Erling Haaland of Manchester City, Luka Modric and Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Jude Bellingham round out the list of nominees.
Despite being out for the previous six months owing to injury, Alexia Putellas is nominated for the women's prize.
The midfielder for Barcelona and Spain earned the prize the previous year and kept it in October.
Along with two other players of the England side who won the European Championship on home soil, Leah Williamson and Keira Walsh, Arsenal striker Beth Mead, who finished second to Putellas for the Ballon d'Or, is also competing for the award.
Additional awards include the Puskas Award for the best goal of 2022, the best goalie, and the best male and female coaches.
The three finalists in each category will be chosen by a public vote, which is open until February 3.
The winner is then chosen by a panel of of journalists, national team leaders, coaches, and fans.
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