Messi, Mbappe and Haaland among Fifa best award nominees, Bonmati on women’s list.

Delhi: Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are on the short-list for The Best Fifa Men’s Player Award, while Spain’s Aitana Bonmati is among the nominees for the Best Women’s Player on the back of winning the Golden Ball at the World Cup.

Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland is set to compete with Lionel Messi for another major accolade as The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has unveiled its shortlist for The Best Men’s Player 2023 on Thursday. The international governing body of association football has revealed as many as 12 contenders for the coveted award in the men’s category.

Aitana Bonmati of Spain and Jenni Hermoso of Spain are both competing for the FIFA Best Player award. Bonmati won the Women’s World Cup Player of the Tournament honour. The three Spanish footballers Bonmati, Mapi Leon, and Hermoso are among the 16 contenders for the women’s best player honour. 

The nominees were shortlisted by a panel of soccer experts that included retired players Mia Hamm and Didier Drogba.Voting for the eighth annual awards opened on Thursday on Fifa.com and closes in mid-October. National team coaches, captains, journalists and fans make up the list of voters.