Messi and 10 Others in the Race for FIFA Player of the Year

Lionel Messi is the only player on the list playing club football outside of Europe. Despite not being on this year’s Ballon d’Or shortlist, Messi is still in the running for the ‘The Best FIFA Men’s Player’ award. Also competing for the award are Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, Kylian Mbappé, and Vinícius Júnior.

FIFA, the governing body of world football, revealed the list of 11 nominees for the Men’s Player of the Year award on their website on Friday. The list includes Dani Carvajal, Erling Haaland, Federico Valverde, Florian Wirtz, Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal, and Toni Kroos.

Out of the 11 players, six are from Real Madrid, and Messi is the only one not playing in European club football. The players’ performances between August 21, 2023, and August 10, 2024, were considered for the nominations.

This is the first time since 2003 that Messi did not feature in the Ballon d’Or’s top 30 players. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has also claimed ‘The Best FIFA Men’s Player’ award three times: in 2019, 2022, and 2023. Even though he’s now 37, Messi continues to shine in football, playing for Inter Miami in the United States after leaving European football in July 2023. His incredible performances helped Inter Miami win the 2023 Leagues Cup, their first major trophy, and he also contributed significantly to their 2024 Supporters’ Shield victory.

Messi’s achievements with the Argentina national team in 2024 include winning the Copa América and scoring the most goals in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Rodri, who is also in the running for the award, played a key role in Manchester City’s fourth consecutive Premier League title and Spain’s victory at the European Championship in July 2023, where he was named the best player of the tournament. Vinícius Júnior played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s victories in the Champions League, La Liga, and Spanish Super Cup, scoring in the Champions League final and earning the tournament’s best player title.

The best player will be chosen by the captains and coaches of FIFA’s member countries, along with selected media representatives. Their votes make up 75% of the total score, with 25% coming from fans. Football fans can cast their votes on FIFA’s website until December 10.

The 11 nominees are: