Mbappe, Benzema, Messi finalists for FIFA’s best player award
February 11, 2023
Argentina forward Lionel Messi is on the shortlist for the FIFA Best Male Player award, along with Paris St Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, football’s world governing body announced on Friday.
They are competing to succeed Robert Lewandowski, winner of the FIFA award in 2020 and 2021.
Messi could win his second The Best trophy after leading Argentina to their third World Cup title by beating Mbappe’s France in last year’s final in Qatar, scoring seven goals during the tournament and earning his second Golden ball.
World Cup Golden Boot winner Mbappe and France’s 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Benzema feature for the first time among the three finalists.
