GENEVA, February 10 – Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema have been named finalists for the 2022 FIFA Men’s Soccer Player Award, world soccer’s governing body FIFA announced on Friday.
Messi captained Argentina to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy in Qatar last year, beating France in a dramatic final. Messi won the tournament’s Ballon d’Or, while his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Mbappé clinched the Golden Boot with eight goals.
Mbappé’s compatriot Benzema won last year’s Ballon d’Or for winning the UEFA Champions League and La Liga with Real Madrid, but missed the World Cup due to injury.
Alexia Putellas of Spain, Beth Mead of England and Alex Morgan of the United States were all nominated for the Best Female Player Award.
The winners of the best male and female players, the best male and female coaches, the best male and female goalkeepers, and the Puskas Award for the best goal of 2022, will be announced on February 27 in Paris.
