FIFA has announced a list of 14 players including PSG stars Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar but the Portuguese sensation Cristiano Ronaldo missed out for the first time since coming to the limelight after a devastating season in terms of his standard.
Pela primeira vez, Ronaldo não está entre os nomeados para o prémio #TheBest da FIFA. pic.twitter.com/RDy2STqHIT
— B24 (@B24PT) January 12, 2023
On January 12, FIFA updated the list where 14 superstars along the World Football will compete with each other to emerge as the best when the award will be given.
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe is having a stellar of a season after the two superstars of the game fought valiantly during the World Cup 2022 where Messi and Argentina pulled of a sensational victory to lift the trophy.
That Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe link up 🔥
Will we see them combine once again this evening? 🤔pic.twitter.com/U8mGvvZ9Zp
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 11, 2023
Neymar is simply unstoppable in this season with his dazzling performance and the Brazilian prince is named among the best despite being knocked out of the World Cup 2022 in the quarter final against Croatia.
⚠️ | QUICK STAT
Only two Brazilians have now scored at least two goals at three separate #FIFAWorldCup tournaments:
• Ronaldo (1998, 2002, 2006)
🆕 Neymar (2014, 2018, 2022)🇧🇷 No. 9 🤝 No. 10 🇧🇷
#CROBRA #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/Jr47ApJYLe— Sofascore (@SofascoreINT) December 9, 2022
Sadio Mane has missed the most desired tournament of his career through injury, but one heck of a performance in the AFCON where he led Senegal to victory and a World Cup qualifier heroics placed his position firmly among the nominees.
February 6: Sadio Mané's penalty vs. Egypt wins AFCON for Senegal
Today: Sadio Mané's penalty vs. Egypt sends Senegal to the 2022 World Cup
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 29, 2022
Erling Haaland has taken the Premier League and European stage by storm after scoring goals after goals and winning individual trophies with the clubs have justified the upcoming best youngster and future Ballon D’or winner’s inclusion.
"Incredible sense of smell, of talent to score goals"🗣
Pep Guardiola reflects on Erling Haaland's first-half hattrick in the 6-0 win over Nottingham Forest ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/cnnRTQG9GJ
— Manchester City News (@ManCityMEN) August 31, 2022
However, his Man City partner, Julian Alvarez is named among the nominees certainly raised some eyeborrows but the 22 years old helped Argentina to win the World Cup after scoring four goals certainly has a point to counter to the critics.
Julián Álvarez siempre se proyectó como un fenómeno. Hace un mes, en pleno Mundial de Qatar, se recibió de crack universal contra Croacia. GOLAZO de toda la cancha para un jugador de toda la cancha. Mucho más que un goleador. 💎👏pic.twitter.com/k34RPps0MX
— VarskySports (@VarskySports) January 13, 2023
Cristiano Ronaldo is omitted from the list after a disappointing campaign for his club Manchester United and for his nation Portugal. Ronaldo was a victim of poor outings, was benched so many occasions and winning null title with his club certainly made the case more complicated and hence, FIFA opted against it.
Ronaldo shows his frustration at being subbed off pic.twitter.com/oifKItnkkh
— Project Football EPL (@ProjectEPL) January 19, 2022
FIFA Best Men’s Players:
⚫️ Julián Álvarez (Argentina, River Plate , Manchester City FC)
⚫️ Jude Bellingham (England , BV Borussia 09 Dortmund)
⚫️ Karim Benzema (France , Real Madrid CF)
⚫️ Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium, Manchester City FC)
⚫️ Erling Haaland (Norway , BV Borussia 09 Dortmund, Manchester City FC)
⚫️ Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain)
⚫️ Robert Lewandowski (Poland , FC Bayern München , FC Barcelona)
⚫️ Sadio Mané (Senegal, Liverpool FC, FC Bayern München)
⚫️ Kylian Mbappé (France , Paris Saint-Germain)
⚫️ Lionel Messi (Argentina , Paris Saint-Germain)
⚫️ Luka Modrić (Croatia, Real Madrid CF)
⚫️ Neymar (Brazil , Paris Saint-Germain)
⚫️ Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool FC)
⚫️ Vinícius Junior (Brazil , Real Madrid CF)
The nominees for the FIFA Best Player of 2022! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ypot4FMXf5
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) January 12, 2023
