The world discovered who is in with a chance of walking away from The Best FIFA Football Awards on 24 September with a trophy under their arm after the final lists of hopefuls were unveiled at an event in London.
Reigning The Best FIFA Men’s Player Cristiano Ronaldo is back in the running, while there are two first-time nominees in FIFA World Cup™ finalist and adidas Golden Ball winner Luka Modric, and Liverpool’s electric Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah.
The Best FIFA Women’s Player award is certain to change hands. Lyon duo Ada Hegerbergand Dzsenifer Maroszan, who enjoyed an unbeaten Division 1 Feminine season and lifted the UEFA Women’s Champions League, are joined by Brazil’s triumphant Copa America Feminina captain Marta in contending for the honour.
When it comes to those in the dugout, both The Best FIFA Men’s Coach and The Best FIFA Women’s Coach could well be reclaimed, with former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane and the Netherlands’s tactician Sarina Wiegman both in contention.
The two managers walking the touchline in the Russia 2018 Final are also in line, with France’s Didier Deschamps and Zlatko Dalic of Croatia completing the men’s trio. Lyon’s Reynald Pedros and Japan’s Asako Takakura, the latter having guided her side to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, join Wiegman in vying for the women’s award.
The Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award will be contested between a trio who shone in Russia, namely Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois, France’s Hugo Lloris and Denmark’s Kasper Schmeichel. Meanwhile, the shortlists for the FIFA Puskás Award and FIFA Fan Award were revealed, with voting now open for supporters to help decide the winners.
All seven awards, as well as the FIFA Fair Play Award and FIFA/FIFPro World 11, will be handed out on 24 September in front of football’s biggest names amongst the impressive surroundings of London’s Royal Festival Hall.
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Source: FIFA