Meet the Candidates for The Best 2023
Get to know the candidates for The Best 2023, the award given by FIFA to the best players in the past year.
Once again, the name of Lionel Messi appears, while other Latin American players were also considered.
The candidates for The Best represent the best of the best in world football, both at the club and national team levels.
In the women’s category, the contenders for the award include Colombian player Linda Caicedo and four Spanish players: Aitana Bonmatí, Jenni Hermoso, Salma Paralluelo, who were part of the World Cup-winning team, and Mapi León.
Meanwhile, in the coaching category, Pep Guardiola, who led Manchester City to victory in the UEFA Champions League, Premier League, and UEFA Super Cup, tops the list of nominations.
Other candidates for The Best include Julián Álvarez, Kevin de Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Rodri Hernández, Bernardo Silva, and Ilkay Gündogan, all recognized for their performances with Manchester City. Also, included in the list are Marcelo Brozovic from Croatia, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Georgia, Kylian Mbappé from France, Victor Osimhen from Nigeria, Declan Rice from England, and the reigning winner, Lionel Messi from Argentina.
In the women’s category, apart from the mentioned Spanish players, nominees include Colombian Linda Caicedo, English players Rachel Daly, Alex Greenwood, Lauren James, and Keira Walsh, French player Kadidiatou Diani, Australian players Caitlin Foord, Sam Kerr, and Mary Fowler, American player Lindsey Horan, Swedish player Amanda Ilestedt, and Japanese player Hinata Miyazawa.
The international jury that will decide the winners is composed of national team captains, coaches, journalists, and fans from around the world.
Nominees for the Puskás Award for the best goal scored between December 19, 2022, and August 20, 2023, can be voted for from September 21 to October 10.
Candidates for The Best 2023 Awards:
The Best FIFA Women’s Player Award: Aitana Bonmatí (Spain); Linda Caicedo (Colombia); Rachel Daly (England); Kadidiatou Diani (France); Caitlin Foord (Australia); Mary Fowler (Australia); Alex Greenwood (England); Jenni Hermoso (Spain); Lindsey Horan (USA); Amanda Ilestedt (Sweden); Lauren James (England); Sam Kerr (Australia); Mapi León (Spain); Hinata Miyazawa (Japan); Salma Paralluelo (Spain); Keira Walsh (England).
The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award: Julián Álvarez (Argentina); Marcelo Brozovic (Croatia); Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium); Ilkay Gündogan (Germany); Erling Haaland (Norway); Rodrigo “Rodri” Hernández Cascante (Spain); Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia); Kylian Mbappé (France); Lionel Messi (Argentina); Victor Osimhen (Nigeria); Declan Rice (England); Bernardo Silva (Portugal).
The Best FIFA Women’s Coach Award: Peter Gerhardsson (Sweden); Jonatan Giráldez (Spain); Tony Gustavsson (Sweden); Emma Hayes (England); Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands).
The Best FIFA Men’s Coach Award: Pep Guardiola (Spain); Simone Inzaghi (Italy); Ange Postecoglou (Australia); Luciano Spalletti (Italy); Xavi Hernández (Spain).
The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper Award: Mackenzie Arnold (Australia); Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany); Catalina Coll (Spain); Mary Earps (England); Christiane Endler (Chile); Zecira Mušovic (Sweden); Sandra Paños (Spain).
The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper Award: Yassine Bono (Morocco); Thibaut Courtois (Belgium); Ederson (Brazil); André Onana (Cameroon); Marc-André ter Stegen (Germany).
FIFA Fan Award: Fan of Club Atlético Colón de Santa Fe (Argentina); Fran Hurndall (England); Miguel Ángel, a fan of Millonarios (Colombia).
Also read: The Mexican World Cup cycle started with some doubts.
