FIFA ‘The Best’ award winner leaked ahead of Monday’s ceremony

Callum Boyle

There were 14 nominations for the award

The winner of the Best FIFA Men’s Player Award has allegedly been leaked ahead of the official ceremony, which takes place on Monday.

Going into its seventh year, taking place in Paris, some of the biggest names in football are in contention for the prize.

Names like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema, Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski and Kevin De Bruyne however it seems that the winner of the 2022 edition haas already been decided.

The full list of nominees is:

Julian Alvarez (Argentina / River Plate / Manchester City FC)

Jude Bellingham (England / BV Borussia 09 Dortmund)

Karim Benzema (France / Real Madrid CF)

Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium / Manchester City FC)

Erling Haaland (Norway / BV Borussia 09 Dortmund / Manchester City FC)

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain)

Robert Lewandowski (Poland / FC Bayern Munich/ FC Barcelona)

Sadio Mane (Senegal / Liverpool FC / FC Bayern Munich)

Kylian Mbappe (France / Paris Saint-Germain)

Lionel Messi (Argentina / Paris Saint-Germain)

Luka Modric (Croatia / Real Madrid CF)

Neymar (Brazil / Paris Saint-Germain)

Mohamed Salah (Egypt / Liverpool FC)

Vinicius Junior (Brazil / Real Madrid CF)

According to journalist Francesc Aguilar, Messi is set to be given the award, Aguilar even said that Messi picking up the trophy could be used as a message to France Football and L’Equipe after the Argentine wasn’t even nominated for the Ballon d’Or.

He tweeted: Lionel Messi is The Best. On Monday, FIFA will remind L’Equipe and France Football that they did not include Leo among the candidates for the Ballon d’Or. To make matters worse, FIFA will hold The Best gala in…Paris!”

Lionel Messi es The Best. El lunes, la FIFA se lo recordará a L'Equipe y France Football que no incluyeron a Leo entre los candidatos al Balón de Oro

— Francesc Aguilar (@FApor_elmundo) February 25, 2023

If Aguilar is correct this will be the second time the Paris Saint-Germain star will have won the award, having previously collected it in 2019.

Messi made history in 2022 by lifting his first World Cup title and Argentina’s first since 1986. His stellar performances for his country cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time as he scored two goals in the final against France.

The FIFA event is set to start at 8pm UK time and will be broadcasted live on the official FIFA YouTube channel.

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