FIFA has announced the shortlist of nominees for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024, which will recognise the leading lights in another thrilling year of women’s and men’s football at both club and national-team levels.
Voting is now open on FIFA.com across a number of award categories, with fans set to play a key role in choosing the winners. Voting for The Best FIFA Men’s Player, The Best FIFA Women’s Player, The Best FIFA Men’s Coach, The Best FIFA Women’s Coach, The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper and The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper will be equally weighted between fans, the current captains and coaches of all women’s/men’s national teams, and media representatives.
The winner of the FIFA Fan Award will be chosen entirely by fans, while the recipient of the FIFA Fair Play Award will be decided by an expert panel. Voting for the new FIFA Marta Award and the FIFA Puskás Award will be split equally between fans and a panel of FIFA Legends.
The biggest change in terms of voting for this year’s edition of The Best FIFA Football Awards is that fans will have their say in selecting The Best FIFA Men’s 11 and The Best FIFA Women’s 11. They will be able to choose from a list of 77 nominated players – 22 defenders, midfielders and forwards apiece, plus 11 goalkeepers – slotting them into one of several preset tactical formations to build their team. Votes will be weighted equally between fans and an expert panel.
Agencies add
Meanwhile, despite being at the twilight of their illustrious careers, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo continue to be prominent figures as FIFA on Friday announced the nominees for The Best FIFA Football Awards for 2024.
Messi is shortlisted for The Best FIFA Men's Player award -- a title he has won a record three times -- for having led Inter Miami to the MLS Supporters' Shield and winning the Copa América with Argentina. This marks his eighth consecutive nomination, making the eight-time Balon d'Or-winner the only player to feature every year since 2016.
Other nominees include Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe and recent Ballon d'Or winner Rodri.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, missed the shortlist for the third year running but the five-time Balon d'Or-winner is one of the 77 players nominated for The Best FIFA Men's 11 of 2024, joining Messi among 22 forwards competing for a spot.
