Winners of the 2023 World Cup, according to FIFA Lead Nominations Go to Jenni Hermoso and Lionel Messi weboomania.com
Lionel Messi and Jenni Hermoso Headline Best FIFA Football Awards 2023
World Cup-winning stars Lionel Messi from Argentina and Jenni Hermoso from Spain are the marquee names at the forefront of the Best FIFA Football Awards 2023.
Lionel Messi, a two-time recipient of the prestigious award in 2019 and 2022, finds himself among the nominees for the Best FIFA Men’s Player award. His competition includes fellow countryman Julian Alvarez, Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne, French sensation Kylian Mbappe, Norwegian prodigy Erling Haaland, and England’s Declan Rice, as reported by Olympics.com.
On the other hand, Jenni Hermoso, aiming for her maiden Best FIFA Women’s Player accolade, faces tough competition. Her fellow contenders in this category include Australian standout Sam Kerr, England’s Alex Greenwood, and Lindsey Horan from the USA. Additionally, three of Jenni Hermoso’s Spanish teammates have also earned nominations in this prestigious category.
The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony is expected to be a captivating showcase of football talent and excellence, with these world-class players vying for the coveted titles.
Top Contenders in FIFA Best Goalkeeper and Coach Awards
The FIFA Best Goalkeeper awards promise intense competition, with notable names in contention. For the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award, the leading candidates include Yassine Bounou from Morocco, Andre Onana representing Cameroon, and Brazil’s Ederson. In the women’s category for the best goalkeeper award, England’s Mary Earps, who earned the 2023 FIFA World Cup Golden Glove, is the standout candidate.
The FIFA Best Coach awards also feature prominent nominees. Among the Best FIFA Men’s Coach contenders are treble-winning Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, Simone Inzaghi from Inter Milan, and Xavi from Barcelona, among others.
In the FIFA Women’s Best Coach category, England women’s national team coach Sarina Wiegman is a prominent name. She led England to their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup final this year.
It’s worth noting that the eighth edition of the FIFA Best Awards assesses performances of men’s players and coaches from December 19, 2022, to August 20, 2023. For all women’s categories, the evaluation period is from August 1, 2022, to August 20, 2023. The awards ceremony is anticipated to showcase the finest talents in football from around the globe.
FIFA Best Awards 2023: Lionel Messi and Jenni Hermoso Lead the Way
The highly anticipated nominees for the 2023 FIFA Best Awards have been unveiled, with two World Cup-winning stars, Lionel Messi and Jenni Hermoso, taking the spotlight. Messi, a two-time recipient of this prestigious award in 2019 and 2022, is once again in contention, while Hermoso aims for her first such honor.
Both Messi and Hermoso played pivotal roles in their respective teams’ triumphs at the 2022 World Cup. Messi, who scored seven goals and provided five assists in seven matches, led Argentina to their first World Cup victory since 1986. Meanwhile, Hermoso netted six goals in six matches as Spain secured their maiden Women’s World Cup title.
Their World Cup successes were complemented by exceptional performances at the club level. Messi, now with Paris Saint-Germain, delivered a stunning season with 47 goals and 22 assists in 41 appearances. Hermoso, representing Barcelona, scored an impressive 39 goals in 36 matches.
Among the other notable nominees is Kevin De Bruyne, a standout figure for Manchester City in their Premier League triumph and Champions League semifinal appearance. The Belgian midfielder contributed 15 goals and eight assists across 43 matches.
In the youthful talent department, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are prime contenders for the Best FIFA Men’s Player award. Mbappe, of Paris Saint-Germain, notched 39 goals in 46 games, while Haaland, hailing from Borussia Dortmund, tallied 29 goals in 30 matches.
On the women’s front, Alexia Putellas is the frontrunner for the Best FIFA Women’s Player award. The Spanish midfielder, who clinched the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year for the second consecutive year in 2022, scored 34 goals in 39 appearances for Barcelona during their triumphant campaigns in the Champions League and Spanish league.
The FIFA Best Awards will feature several other categories, including Best FIFA Men’s Coach, Best FIFA Women’s Coach, Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper, Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper, FIFA Puskas Award for the best goal of the year, and FIFA Fan Award for the best fan moment of the year. The nominees for these categories will be disclosed in the coming weeks.
As the 2023 FIFA Best Awards ceremony approaches, the footballing world eagerly anticipates the announcement of the deserving winners in each category. Mark your calendars for February 27, 2024, when the awards will be presented in Zurich, Switzerland.