GUWAHATI: In the highly anticipated 2023 FIFA Best awards, football enthusiasts around the globe are eagerly awaiting to see if Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, or Lionel Messi will be crowned the Men's Player of the Year. The shortlist was unveiled, showcasing the stellar performances of these exceptional players.
Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, who plays for Manchester City, is in contention alongside French forward Kylian Mbappe of Paris St-Germain and Argentine forward Lionel Messi, currently with Inter Miami. The trio emerged from a competitive initial list of 12 outstanding players.
For the Women's Player of the Year category, the finalists include Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati, Real Madrid's 18-year-old Colombian forward Linda Caicedo, and Pachuca's Spanish forward Jenni Hermoso. The women's award considers performances from August 1, 2022, to August 20, 2023, encompassing Spain's victory in the 2023 World Cup.
The Puskas award, recognising the best goal of the year, features the final three contenders: Julio Enciso, Guilherme Madruga, and Nuno Santos. Football enthusiasts will eagerly await the announcement of the winners, scheduled for January 15, 2024, in London.
The evaluation period for the men's award spans from December 19, 2022 - a day after the conclusion of the men's 2022 World Cup final - to August 20, 2023. The winners will be determined through a voting process involving national team coaches, captains, journalists, and fans.