FIFA Best awards: Full list of nominees with USWNT star Alex Morgan, Lionel Messi, Richarlison among finalists

The FIFA Best Football Awards will head to Paris on Monday 27 February and it should be a stellar event. The governing body of world football rewards the best players and coaches, as well as some of the best achievements of the year, including the announced Puskás Best Goal Award. The finalists in each category were determined by a public fan vote after an initial shortlist was named by a committee selected by FIFA. Then the coaches, captains, journalists and fans of the national teams will vote for the awards.

Players like Karim Benzema, Richarlison and Alex Morgan lead the final contenders for the most notable awards. Let’s take a look at each of the finalists:

Best FIFA Women’s Player

• Beth Meade (England, Arsenal)
• Alex Morgan (USA, San Diego wave)
• Alexia Putellas (Spain, Barcelona)

Winner of the Euro 2022 Women’s Golden Boot at Mead, the NWSL Golden Boot at Morgan and the current award winner at Putellas, this is an all-star squad looking to take home the award. But while Morgan shone for club and country, it was Sophia Smith who took home the NWSL MVP awards and is still missing from the list. Putellas’ anterior cruciate ligament injury kept her out of the Euros, which could have prevented her from becoming a repeat winner.

Best FIFA Men’s Player

• Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid)
• Kylian Mbappe (France, PSG)
• Lionel Messi (Argentina, PSG)

French ties are strong, with all three players either French or playing their club football in Ligue 1. Benzema is the reigning Ballon d’Or winner and had a great season at Real Madrid despite missing the World Cup due to injury. In his absence from France, Mbappe scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final, but it was not enough to stop Messi and Argentina from winning the World Cup trophy. Messi and Mbappe are head to head, but the World Cup is likely to tip the scales in favor of Messi.

FIFA Puskas Prize finalists

• Marcin Oleksi (Poland): Warta Poznan vs. Steel Rzeszow
• Dmitry Paye (France): Olympique de Marseille vs. PAOK Thessaloniki
• Richarlison (Brazil): Brazil vs. Serbia

This Puskás accolade includes goals in World Cups, league games and European competitions, as well as many brilliant strikes from all over the world. Oleski, an amputee, scored with a scissors kick, which is an amazing feat. It was a goal, congratulated by Robert Lewandowski, that led Puskas to the final.

Finalists of the competition “Best FIFA Men’s Coach”

• Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)
• Guardiola (Manchester City)
• Lionel Scaloni (Argentina)

It has been an outstanding year for coaching as each of the listed managers except Guardiola has won at least two trophies during the year, but leading Manchester City to their fourth Premier League title in five seasons is still a big achievement. Scaloni averted Argentina’s World Cup drought and Ancelotti won La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid.

Finalists of the competition “Best FIFA Women’s Coach”

• Sonia Bompastor (Olympique Lyon)
• Pia Sandhage (Brazil)
• Sarina Weigman (England)

Weigman led England to their first major tournament victory when the Lionesses announced themselves to the world at Women’s Euro 2022. The team is also undefeated as it has won with 22 wins in 26 matches. Brazil won the Women’s Copa América in 2022 with a stunning dominance, scoring 20 goals in just six matches. Bompastor won a double at Lyon, winning the French Championship and the Champions League. Lyon have won 21 of 22 home matches under Bompastor.

FIFA Men’s Best Goalkeeper Finalists

• Amy Martinez (Argentina, Aston Villa)
• Thibaut Courtois (Belgium, Real Madrid)
• Yassin Bunu (Morocco, Seville)

Another award that is hard to share. Bounou was the hero of the World Cup in Morocco and Martinez was the hero of penalties for club and country. Without Courtois, Real Madrid would have had no chance in the Champions League, but all three were at the top of their game. Martinez has probably been the least consistent goalkeeper of the trio, but his moments for Argentina in the World Cup and Copa América stand apart.

Finalists of the competition “Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper”

• Anne-Katrin Berger (Germany, Chelsea)
• Mary Earps (England, Manchester United)
• Christine Endler (Chile, Olympique Lyon)

In the league, Endler conceded just eight goals in 22 games last season, an incredible record even if Chile fell short of England and Germany’s international records. Earp dominated helping England win Euro 2022 while Berger was successful. Re-diagnosed with thyroid cancer, Berger went on to play for Germany before returning to play for Chelsea while still undergoing cancer treatment.