PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain teammates Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe will go head-to-head on Monday for the 2022 FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award, with Balen de and Karim Benzema the other contenders, as in the World Cup final.
The ceremony takes place in Paris, and Messi looks favorite to add another individual gong to his collection after Mbappe gave Argentina a lead over France in the epic contest in Qatar.
Messi has won the Ballon d’Or seven times and claimed the FIFA award – which was inaugurated in 2016 after FIFA parted ways with the Ballon d’Or with organizers France Football – once in 2019.
Messi has graced the podium in the past two years as Robert Lewandowski has won the title, but the 35-year-old’s career crowning World Cup win was the defining moment of 2022.
The winner is decided by a jury consisting of the coach and captain of each men’s national team and a journalist from each country, but fans can also vote.
Mbappe became the first player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final since Geoff Hurst in 1966 as he drew France 3-3 after extra-time – despite two goals from Messi – before finally Died in the shootout.
Mbappe, who turned 24 shortly after the final, was the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, one more than Messi, who claimed the Golden Ball for best player.
He was also comfortably PSG’s most important player in the year leading up to the World Cup, despite being joined by Messi — he was Ligue 1’s top scorer and France’s player of the year.
However, their World Cup achievements overshadow everything else.
“Since Messi won the World Cup, he has the biggest chance to win it, that’s a fact,” admitted Ruud Gult, himself a former Ballon d’Or winner.
The Dutchman was speaking in his role as a member of the Glatt Laureus Academy, which recently nominated Mbappe and Messi for their respective awards.
“But I have a lot of respect for Mbappe. For me he’s on the same level. What he did in the final, to take that responsibility was incredible,” he added.
Putellas up for women’s gong
Benzema’s chances of winning another individual title were dealt a blow after he was ruled out of the World Cup through injury.
Exiled from the French team for five-and-a-half years for his involvement in a former teammate’s sex tape blackmail scandal, Benzema’s Ballon d’Or win last October completed his own career redemption.
The Real Madrid striker, now 35, scored 44 goals in 46 games for his club last season, inspiring them to Champions League and La Liga honours.
He has continued to score goals this season.
“I’m really proud of my journey,” he declared after claiming the Ballon d’Or.
Reigning Ballon d’Or Alexia Potelis, who won the award last year, is again nominated for the women’s prize despite being sidelined since July with a knee injury.
England forward Beth Mead and American star Alex Morgan are the other finalists.
Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni joins Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola for the men’s coach honour.
Serena Wegmann, who won Euro 2022 with England, is up for the women’s coach award alongside Lyon’s Sonia Boompaster and Brazil’s Pia Sindhage.
Brazil star Richarlison’s World Cup strike against Serbia is one of three nominees for the Puskas Award for best goal, named after Hungarian great Frank Puskas.
Marseille’s Dimitri Payet and Polish amputee Marcin Oleksii are also nominated, while there is also a category for best male and female goalkeeper.
