Messi, principal candidate for The Best award

FIFA has announced the 14 candidates for The Best, the award of the highest world soccer body for the best player on the planet in 2022. Among the candidates for the award, Lionel Messi, the top favorite after leading Argentina to the third place, stands out Albiceleste World Cup and who aspires to his second trophy after the split of the Ballon d’Or award.

They second the star from Rosario as candidates for FIFA recognition Karim Benzema, who is the other favorite despite being left out of the World Cup. The award recognizes the best in the last calendar year, in which the French striker was the benchmark for a Real Madrid champion of the Champions League and La Liga.

One step behind the Frenchman and the Argentinean are Kyliam Mbappé, boosted by his status as the top scorer in the World Cup despite falling short of the title; and the Norwegian Erling Haaland, who was not in Qatar but pulverized goalscoring records at a record pace since Guardiola’s arrival at Manchester City last summer.

Real Madrid players Vinicius and Luka Modric, third in the World Cup with Croatia, as well as Barcelona player Robert Lewandowski are together with Benzema the four representatives of the League among the nominees. They complete the list, although with practically no options, Neymar, Kevin de Bruyne, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, Julián Álvarez, Jude Bellingham and Achraf Hakimi.