Candidates for FIFA’s ‘The Best’ award are announced with Messi, Lewandowski and Jorginho in with a chance

Posted by

With a week to go until the Ballon d’Or awards, FIFA have released their own list of candidates for their The Best award.

That two different players can win the awards ends up making a mockery of them both, and to some extent also devalues them.

All of the big names are in with a chance including Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Mo Salah, Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema, Kevin de Bruyne, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jorginho, N’Golo Kante and Neymar.

As ever, it’s a hugely subjective list, particularly when there are one or two standout players.

MORE: Back to basics for Liverpool

Furthermore, as with the Ballon d’Or, there never seems to be a clearly defined set of criteria to measure the contenders against.

Should points be awarded for amount of goals scored, goal saving tackles made, titles won? What actually are people voting for?

Tactical voting can often skew results which also does the award no favours whatsoever.

May the best man win…

More Stories Cristiano Ronaldo Erling Haaland FIFA FIFA The Best Jorginho Karim Benzema Kevin De Bruyne Kylian Mbappe Lionel Messi Mo Salah Mohamed Salah N'Golo Kante Neymar Neymar Jnr Neymar Jr Robert Lewandowski Ronaldo The Best