Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland will compete for the FIFA best men’s player award in 2023.
On Thursday, the International Federation of Association Football announced the shortlist, with the same top three in voting as for the Ballon d’Or award, which Messi won in October.
Though the Ballon d’Or voting period included Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory, Messi had already won his seventh career FIFA award in February, which recognized his title-winning performances in Qatar.
The women’s best player shortlist includes two World Cup winners from 2023, Aitana Bonmat and Jenni Hermoso of Spain, as well as Linda Caicedo of Colombia.
The FIFA men’s award for 2023 recognizes Haaland’s outstanding season in assisting Manchester City to a treble of Champions League, English Premier League, and FA Cup titles.
Messi and Mbappé won the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain, who were knocked out of the Champions League in the first round. Messi then moved on to Inter Miami, where he quickly helped the team win the League Cup.
Bonmat also won the women’s Ballon d’Or in October, as well as the UEFA award for best player in Europe last season in August. She also contributed to Barcelona winning the Women’s Champions League and the Spanish league.
In August, Bonmat used her acceptance speech to stand up for her teammate Hermoso, who was kissed on the lips without her consent by Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales at a game.
Rubiales eventually resigned three weeks after the final on August 20, and the fallout cost women’s team coach Jorge Vilda his job. Vilda was not nominated for the FIFA Women’s Soccer Coaching Award.
The FIFA ceremony will take place on January 15 in London.
Through an online poll that closed in October, national team captains and coaches, selected journalists, and fans voted.