Lionel Messi to win again? Inter Miami star up against familiar foes Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe for The Best FIFA Men’s Player award as Spain duo Aitana Bonmati and Jenni Hermoso make Women’s shortlist

The 2022 World Cup winner, who now has eight Golden Balls to his name, continues to be recognised as the best player on the planet at 36 years of age. He is the current holder of the FIFA Best prize and could become the first man to claim that trophy on three occasions. In order to do so he will have to fend off competition from familiar foes Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe – with the Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain forwards finishing in second and third behind him in the Ballon d’Or vote.

FIFA has said of Messi on the organisation's official website – with their top award acknowledging efforts between December 19, 2022 and August 20, 2023: “What else is left to say about the player who has won every major domestic, international and individual honour in the game, and continues to mesmerise global audiences at the age of 36. Messi, who was named The Best Men's Player in 2022, returned from leading Argentina to glory in Qatar to help PSG lift their latest Ligue 1 crown, the second of his spell in France, while he was also named in the Ligue 1 team of the season and ended the campaign at the top of the division’s assists chart. A new challenge presented itself in July, with the diminutive genius, who now has over 100 goals for his country and is the all-time top scorer in the top five European leagues, moving across the Atlantic to join Inter Miami, a transfer greeted with the rapture and fanfare fully deserving of one of the game’s all-time greats.”

In the women’s game, another World Cup winner with ties to Barcelona leads the way in the form of Aitana Bonmati. She is joined on the shortlist by Colombian teenager Linda Caicedo – who won the Golden Goal thanks to her efforts with Real Madrid – and Spain international team-mate Jenni Hermoso.

A glittering awards show will take place on January 15, 2024 – with the prestigious trophies being handed out. Another success for Messi would add further weight to the argument for the South American superstar being considered the greatest of all-time.