In a surprising turn of events in the global football scene, Lionel Messi has been nominated for the prestigious FIFA The Best Men's Player award for 2024. This nomination comes as a shock, especially considering that Messi was not even included in the top 30 shortlist for the Ballon d'Or. However, he has made it onto the FIFA The Best shortlist, joining a list of other top contenders such as Dani Carvajal, Florian Wirtz, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Rodri, and Vinicius Jr. Notably, the award’s consideration period spans from August 21, 2023, to August 10, 2024.
Currently playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, Messi has scored 30 goals in 38 games this year, contributing 19 assists. His most notable achievement during this period was helping Argentina win the 2024 Copa America. However, apart from this triumph, Messi has not added any major club achievements with Inter Miami during the award’s evaluation period.
In contrast, Messi’s long-time rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, did not feature in the list despite an impressive year. Ronaldo netted 49 goals and provided 7 assists in 49 appearances for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, but like Messi, he did not secure any major titles with his club during the award period.
The nominees for The Best FIFA Men’s Player award include:
- Dani Carvajal - Real Madrid
- Erling Haaland - Manchester City
- Federico Valverde - Real Madrid
- Florian Wirtz - Bayer Leverkusen
- Jude Bellingham - Real Madrid
- Toni Kroos - Real Madrid
- Kylian Mbappe - PSG/Real Madrid
- Lamine Yamal - Barcelona
- Lionel Messi - Inter Miami
- Rodri - Manchester City
- Vinicius Jr. - Real Madrid
While Messi’s inclusion is surprising, it is unlikely he will finish in the top three when the winner is announced. Rodri, who has already claimed the Ballon d'Or title, along with Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr., are widely considered the top contenders for the prestigious award.
(Source: NDTV)
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