FIFA honours the best male and female players and coaches every year. This year, two German players and one female player also made it into the shortlist.
On Thursday, FIFA published the shortlist for “The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023”. Ilkay Gündogan (FC Barcelona, formerly ManCity) also made it onto the list of twelve names for the World Player of the Year. The captain of the German national team is the only German player up for election this year.
Five players from Champions League winners Manchester City
But favourites for the title are Manchester City’s goalscorer Erling Haaland, who recently won the European Footballer of the Year award, and Argentina captain Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, formerly of PSG). But Frenchman Kylian Mbappé (PSG) also has hopes of triumph.
Champions League winners Manchester City have the biggest contingent, sending Haaland, Argentina’s Julian Alvarez, Portugal’s Bernardo Silva, Spain’s Rodri and Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne.
No German player among them – Spain dominates
In contrast, there is no German player in the World Player of the Year poll. Spain is represented with a total of four players on the 15-player shortlist following their triumph at the 2023 World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.
Among them is Jennifer “Jenni” Hermoso, who was kissed on the mouth against her will by the then Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales at the award ceremony after the 1-0 win over England. As a result of this “kissing scandal”, which led to worldwide headlines, Rubiales resigned from his post. Jenni is assisted by Aitana Bonmati, Salma Paralluelo and Maria “Mapi” Leon. The latter did not feature at the World Cup, however, having resigned from the national team in 2022 in protest against former national coach Jorge Vilda.
Ter Stegen and Berger are up for selection between the posts
In contrast, German colours will be represented in both the World Goalkeeper and World Women’s Goalkeeper elections. In the men’s category, Barca keeper Marc-André ter Stegen has been nominated, in the women’s category, Chelsea’s Ann-Katrin Berger. The choice for world coach is different. In the coaches’ category, there is probably no way around Champions League winner Pep Guardiola, while Luciano Spalletti, who led Napoli to the championship in Italy, has an outside chance.
In the women’s sector, there is no world champion coach Jorge Vilda, who was sacked in the wake of the kissing scandal and had also previously been subjected to fierce criticism for his management style, including a players’ strike. That’s why it’s likely to come down to Sarina Wiegman’s fourth triumph, the Dutchwoman having led England all the way to the World Cup final.
The FIFA World Player nominees at a glance
Julián Alvarez (Argentina); Marcelo Brozovic (Croatia); Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium); Ilkay Gündogan (Germany); Erling Haaland (Norway); Rodrigo (Rodri); Hernandez Cascante (Spain); Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia); Kylian Mbappé (France); Lionel Messi (Argentina); Victor Osimhen (Nigeria); Declan Rice (England); Bernardo Silva (Portugal).
FIFA World Player nominees at a glance
Aitana Bonmati (Spain); Linda Caicedo (Colombia); Rachel Daly (England); Kadidiatou Diani (France); Caitlin Foord (Australia); Mary Fowler (Australia); Alex Greenwood (England); Jennifer Hermoso (Spain); Lindsey Horan (USA); Amanda Ilestedt (Sweden); Lauren James (England); Sam Kerr (Australia); Mapi Leon (Spain); Hinata Miyazawa (Japan); Salma Paralluelo (Spain); Keira Walsh (England)
FIFA World Cup nominees – Women
Peter Gerhardsson (Sweden); Jonatan Giraldez (Spain); Tony Gustavsson (Sweden); Emma Hayes (England); Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands)
Fifa World Cup Nominees – Men
Pep Guardiola (Spain); Simone Inzaghi (Italy); Ange Postecoglou (Australia); Luciano Spalletti (Italy); Xavi (Spain)
The nominees for FIFA World Goalkeeper
Mackenzie Arnold (Australia); Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany); Catalina Coll (Spain); Mary Earps (England); Christiane Endler (Chile); Zecira Musovic (Sweden); Sandra Paños García-Villamil (Spain)
The nominees for FIFA World Goalkeeper
Yassine Bounou (Morocco); Thibaut Courtois (Belgium); Ederson (Brazil); André Onana (Cameroon); Marc-André ter Stegen (Germany)
In addition, the nominees in the “Fan Award” category will also be announced: Club Atletico Colon de Santa Fe (Argentina), Fran Hurndall (England) and Miguel Angel, fan of Millonarios (Colombia) are up for election.
Fans can cast their votes in all categories on the FIFA website until 6 October. Furthermore, the winners will be chosen by an international jury consisting of all national coaches of the men’s and women’s teams, the captains and one journalist from each region representing a national team.
The winners of The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023 will be honoured at a gala early next year. An exact date has not yet been set.
