Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland Finalists for The Best Fifa Men’s Player 2023

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland have emerged as the top three finalists contending for The Best Fifa Men’s Player of 2023. This selection comes from an initial shortlist of 12 players, and the final winner will be announced at the Fifa Best Awards ceremony in London on January 15, 2024.

The award's timeframe spans from December 19, 2022, to August 20, 2023, with Messi aiming for a consecutive win after securing the prize in 2022. The 36-year-old Argentine captain played a pivotal role in Paris Saint-Germain's Ligue 1 victory before making a move to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS) and contributing to their Leagues Cup triumph. Messi also achieved the milestone of surpassing 100 international goals.

Kylian Mbappe, Messi's former PSG teammate, remains in contention for the award. The French striker was named Ligue 1 Player of the Season and emerged as the top goalscorer during PSG's successful domestic campaign.

Erling Haaland secured his place as a finalist after an exceptional debut season at Manchester City, where he played a key role in winning a treble. The Norwegian striker impressively scored 28 goals in 33 matches during the qualification period, leading in both the Champions League and the Premier League.

The finalists were determined by an international jury, which included men’s national team coaches, captains, football journalists, and fans who cast their votes on Fifa’s official website. Each voter ranked their choices from the original 12-player shortlist for The Best Fifa Men’s Player 2023.