FIFA have updated their shortlists for the The Best awards for 2023 in what will be a mirror of the 2023 Ballon d’Or battle.
Lionel Messi scooped his eighth Ballon d’Or at the end of 2023, with the Inter Miami star finishing ahead of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe respectively in the final count.
The trio are as the confirmed finalists for the men’s award in the FIFA The Best awards with Messi the current holder of the award following his success in 2022.
The awards include numerous categories alongside the men’s trophy, with individual honours for the leading female player, coach and the iconic Puskas Award for the best goal.
What are FIFA The Best awards?
The Best FIFA Football Awards have been handed out since 2017 as part of FIFA’s plan to create an award solely within their organisation.
Previously FIFA partnered with France Football as a partner in the legendary Ballon d’Or award, but that partnership ended in 2016, and FIFA embarked on its own set of awards for the top players and coaches in the sport.
The Ballon d’Or has been in circulation since 1956, and despite the profile of FIFA as the world’s governing football body, The Best awards still…
