Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi have been nominated for the Best Men’s Player Award by FIFA.

A total of 14 players were initially nominated for The Best FIFA Men’s Player award, having been chosen by a panel of experts. From this shortlist, the three finalists have been selected by an international jury comprising: men’s national team coaches, men’s national team captains, football journalists, and fans who voted on FIFA’s official website.

The award recognises the most outstanding performers in the men’s game from the period of 8 August 2021 to 18 December 2022. The winner of the illustrious prize will be revealed at a Paris ceremony on 27 February 2023.

Karim Benzema helped Real Madrid secure a famous UCL triumph, winning the knockout stages in dramatic fashion.

The 35-year-old also secured the Spanish League for Real Madrid. He won the award for the competition’s best player and finished as its top scorer with 15 goals. Benzema was also the leading marksman in La Liga, netting 27 times as Real won a 35th domestic title.

Kylian Mbappe was instrumental for France as they came close to defending the World Cup in December. He netted eight goals to win the tournament’s Golden Boot and he became the first player in 56 years to score a hat-trick in the World Cup final.

For Paris St Germain, Mbappe continued to impress as he helped his team win the 2021/22 Ligue 1 championship. In 46 PSG appearances last season, Mpappe registered 39 goals and 26 assists.

Lionel Messi eventually had his hands on the FIFA World Cup trophy as he helped Argentina to win it for the first time in almost four decades. This exemplary dominance earned him the Golden Ball Award for the best player in the competition, while also scoring seven goals in the title run with a famous brace in the final.

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