Nominees for the Best FIFA Football awards 2022 in both men and women’s categories have emerged.
After his World Cup heroics, Lionel Messi has become a favourite to pick the men’s award. He’s joined on the list by international teammate Julián Álvarez. Current Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema is one of three Real Madrid players nominated after their Champions League victory. Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, who has won the last two men’s awards, joined the list too.
The Best FIFA Men’s Player
- Julián Álvarez (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 München / FC Barcelona)
- Sadio Mané (Senegal / Liverpool FC / FC Bayern München)
- Kylian Mbappé (France / Paris Saint-Germain)
- Lionel Messi (Argentina / Paris Saint-Germain)
- Luka Modrić (Croatia / Real Madrid CF)
- Neymar (Brazil / Paris Saint-Germain)
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt / Liverpool FC)
- Vinícius Junior (Brazil / Real Madrid CF)
The Best FIFA Women’s Player
Ballon d’Or holder Alexia Putellas has been nominated despite having been out since July after suffering an ACL tear. She’s joined by Barcelona teammates Aitana Bonmatí and Keira Walsh. Walsh’s compatriots Beth Mead and Leah Williamson make the list after England’s historic Euro 2022 victory. Also nominated are Ada Hegerberg and Wendie Renard of Olympique Lyonnais, who have won six of the last seven Champions Leagues.
*Aitana Bonmatí (Spain / FC Barcelona)
- Debinha (Brazil / North Carolina Courage)
- Jessie Fleming (Canada / Chelsea FC Women)
- Ada Hegerberg (Norway / Olympique Lyonnais)
- Sam Kerr (Australia / Chelsea FC Women)
- Beth Mead (England / Arsenal WFC)
- Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands / Arsenal WFC)
- Alex Morgan (USA / Orlando Pride / San Diego Wave)
- Lena Oberdorf (Germany / VfL Wolfsburg)
- Alexandra Popp (Germany / VfL Wolfsburg)
- Alexia Putellas (Spain / FC Barcelona)
- Wendie Renard (France / Olympique Lyonnais)
- Keira Walsh (England / Manchester City WFC / FC Barcelona)
- Leah Williamson (England / Arsenal WFC)
The Best FIFA Men’s Coach
Argentina’s World Cup winning coach Lionel Scaloni unsurprisingly makes the list and will be favourite to win the award. Although Walid Regragui, who masterminded Morocco’s surprise run to the semi-final of the tournament and Champions-League winning Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, are also in contention.
- Carlo Ancelotti (Italy / Real Madrid CF)
- Didier Deschamps (France / French National Team)
- Pep Guardiola (Spain / Manchester City FC)
- Walid Regragui (Morocco / Wydad AC / Moroccan National Team)
- Lionel Scaloni (Argentina / Argentinian National Team)
The Best FIFA Women’s Coach
It’s hard to see past Sonia Bompastor of Champions League winners Lyon or Dutchwoman Sarina Wiegman, who oversaw England’s first ever major tournament victory at the European Championships, for this one.
- Sonia Bompastor (France / Olympique Lyonnais)
- Emma Hayes (England / Chelsea FC Women)
- Bev Priestman (England / Canadian National Team)
- Pia Sundhage (Sweden / Brazilian National Team)
- Martina Voss-Tecklenburg (Germany / German National Team)
- Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands / English National Team)
The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper
Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois made a record number of saves in a Champions League final as his side defeated Liverpool to win the trophy, while Emiliano Martínez hit the headlines for his penalty shootout antics/heroics in the World Cup final for Argentina.
- Álisson Becker (Brazil / Liverpool FC)
- Yassine Bounou (Morocco / Sevilla FC)
- Thibaut Courtois (Belgium / Real Madrid CF)
- Ederson (Brazil / Manchester City FC)
- Emiliano Martínez (Argentina / Aston Villa FC)
The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper
Again, players who have won team trophies also tend to come out on top in individual awards, which means Christine Endler, a Champions League winner with Lyon and Mary Earps, who starred for England in their Euros win, may have the edge here.
- Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany / Chelsea FC Women)
- Mary Earps (England / Manchester United WFC)
- Christiane Endler (Chile / Olympique Lyonnais)
- Merle Frohms (Germany / Eintracht Frankfurt / VfL Wolfsburg)
- Alyssa Naeher (USA / Chicago Red Stars)
- Sandra Paños García-Villamil (Spain / FC Barcelona)
Here are the nominees for the FIFA Puskás Award ⚽️
The FIFA Puskás Award (for best goal)
- Mario Balotelli(Italy): Adana Demirspor Göztepe Spor Kulübü [Süper Lig] (22 May 2022)
- Amandine Henry(France): FC Barcelona v. Olympique Lyonnais [UEFA Women’s Champions League] (21 May 2022)
- Théo Hernández(France): AC Milan Atalanta [Serie A] (15 May 2022)
- Alou Kuol(Australia): Iraq U23 v. Australia U23 [AFC U23 Asian Cup] (4 June 2022)
- Kylian Mbappé (France): Argentina v. France[FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™] (18 December 2022)
- Francisco González Metilli(Argentina): Club Atlético Central Córdoba Club Atlético Rosario Central [Primera División] (1 August 2022)
- Marcin Oleksy(Poland): Warta Poznań Stal Rzeszów [PZU Amp Futbol Ekstraklasa] (6 November 2022)
- Salma Paralluelo(Spain): FC Barcelona v. Villarreal CF [Liga F] (2 April 2022)
- Dimitri Payet(France): Olympique de Marseille PAOK Thessaloniki [UEFA Europa Conference League] (7 April 2022)
- Richarlison(Brazil): Brazil Serbia [FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022] (24 November 2022)
- Alessia Russo(England): England Sweden [UEFA Women’s EURO 2022] (26 July 2022)
The Best FIFA Fan Award
- Abdullah Al Salmi (Saudi Arabia):Saudi Arabia fan Al Salmi hiked across the desert in his home country on his way to support his national team at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he saw them record a famous group-stage victory over eventual winners Argentina.
- Argentinian National Team fans (Argentina): Argentina fans travelled to Qatar in huge numbers and significantly outnumbered supporters from other nations in every match they played. Millions of fans then lined the streets of Buenos Aires – and other cities – to welcome Argentina home as champions.
- Japanese National Team fans (Japan): Japan national team fans have become well-known around the globe for helping clean stadiums after games and continued that tradition at the World Cup in Qatar.
When The Best FIFA Football Awards 2022 will emerge
The Best FIFA Football Awards 2022 will take place on February 27, 2023, in Zurich in Switzerland. For the first time since January 2020, guests will be able to attend the event in person rather than virtually (due to the covid-19 pandemic).
