FIFA Best 2024: Vinicius and Rodri lead the charge, with Messi among the nominees
Alongside the Best Men’s Player Award, FIFA has also released nominations for several other categories.
FIFA has revealed the nominees for the 2024 FIFA Best Men's Player Award, with notable names such as Vinicius Junior, Rodri, Kylian Mbappé, and Lionel Messi making the list.
This marks Messi's ninth nomination for the prestigious award, a testament to his consistent brilliance at the top level of football.
Messi, who now plays for Inter Miami, has already claimed the FIFA Best Men's Player Award three times, including in the past two years.
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Other major nominations announced by FIFA
Alongside the Best Men's Player Award, FIFA has also released nominations for several other categories.
These include Best Coach, Best Goalkeeper, Best XI, and the Best Goal Award. There is also the FIFA Fan Award, where fans can directly contribute their votes.
In the categories for Best Player, Best Coach, and Best Goalkeeper, fan votes account for one-quarter of the total, with the remaining three-quarters determined by captains, coaches, and media representatives of FIFA's member nations.
In the Best Goal and Best XI categories, fan votes hold an even greater weight, making up half of the total vote. Voting is open on FIFA's official website until 10 December.
Messi's continued influence and recognition
The Best XI for 2024 includes some of the biggest names in football: Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Júnior, Dani Carvajal, Erling Haaland, Toni Kroos, Rodri, Messi, Federico Valverde, Florian Wirtz, and Lamine Yamal.
Among these players, Rodri emerged as the winner of the 2024 Ballon d'Or, with Vinicius finishing in second and Bellingham in third.
Despite being left out of the Ballon d'Or shortlist, Messi's influence remains undeniable.
The 37-year-old continues to play a pivotal role for both Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. His leadership guided Miami to victory in the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters' Shield, breaking MLS records.
On the international stage, Messi captained Argentina to a Copa América title and finished as the top scorer in the Latin American region of World Cup qualifiers, with six goals.
The Best Coach nominees for 2024
FIFA also revealed the nominations for Best Coach, which include Carlo Ancelotti, Lionel Scaloni, Luis de la Fuente, Pep Guardiola, and Xabi Alonso.
These individuals have had a significant impact on the footballing world during the 2023-2024 season, with their teams enjoying considerable success across various competitions.
The nominees were chosen based on performances from 21 August 2023 to 10 August 2024.
As the deadline for fan voting approaches, football fans around the world are eagerly casting their votes to recognise the best of the past year.
