In a surprising turn of events, Lionel Messi has been nominated for The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2024 despite not being listed among the top 30 candidates for the Ballon d’Or earlier.
FIFA’s nomination places him alongside notable figures such as Dani Carvajal, Florian Wirtz, Erling Haaland, and Jude Bellingham. The award period spans from August 21, 2023, to August 10, 2024.
Currently playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, Messi has impressively scored 30 goals and provided 19 assists this year across all competitions. His most significant achievement during this period was winning the Copa America 2024 with Argentina, although his club achievements with Inter Miami were minimal.
#TheBest FIFA Men's Player 2024 nominees.
Let the voting begin… 🗳️
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 28, 2024Contrastingly, Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi’s long-standing rival, did not make the shortlist. Ronaldo scored 49 goals in 49 appearances for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia without securing any major titles during the award consideration period.
The list of nominees for The Best FIFA Men’s Player also includes:
| Player Name | Club |
|---|---|
| Dani Carvajal | Real Madrid |
| Erling Haaland | Manchester City |
| Federico Valverde | Real Madrid |
| Florian Wirtz | Bayer Leverkusen |
| Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid |
| Toni Kroos | Real Madrid |
| Kylian Mbappe | PSG/Real Madrid |
| Lamine Yamal | Barcelona |
| Rodri | Manchester City |
| Vinicius Jr. | Real Madrid |
List of the Best FIFA Men’s Player 2024 award.
While Messi’s inclusion is unexpected, it remains uncertain if he will rank among the top three when the winner is announced, with strong contenders like Rodri, already a Ballon d’Or winner, and Vinicius Jr. from Real Madrid.
