Another trophy & more history for Lionel Messi? Date set for FIFA Best Awards 2023 as Inter Miami superstar prepares to battle it out with Erling Haaland & Kylian Mbappe

The Argentine icon, who now has eight Ballons d’Or to his name and plies his trade in MLS with Inter Miami, is the current holder of FIFA’s top individual honour. He has collected the Best Men’s Player trophy on two occasions – having also emerged victorious back in 2019 – and no-one has ever won it three times. Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski also sit on two triumphs apiece.

Portuguese superstar Ronaldo is not in the running this time around, with the Al-Nassr forward being overlooked despite showing no sign of slowing down in the Middle East. A 12-man shortlist was revealed back in September, with Messi being joined on that roll of honour by the likes of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe, Napoli sensation Victor Osimhen, Champions League winner Rodri and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice.

Three finalists for all of the Best awards will be selected by an international jury. Alongside the Best Men’s Player prize, trophies will also be presented to the best women’s player and the top goalkeepers and coaches from both the men and women’s games. The Puskas Award for best goal of the year is also set to be distributed, along with the FIFA Fan Award.

FIFA says of its glittering ceremony on the organisation’s official website: “The Best FIFA Football Awards reward the standout candidates in each field, regardless of championship or nationality, for their respective achievements during the designated qualifying period. They not only represent the game’s highest honour for coaches and players, but are a celebration in which football fans are recognised.”

The Best FIFA Football Awards are returning to London for the third time, with Ronaldo and Luka Modric – both then of Real Madrid – walking away with the top honours in 2017 and 2018 respectively. In the women’s game, Barcelona icon Alexia Putellas has been recognised as the best player on the planet in each of the last two calendar years.