Portugal international Bernardo Silva of Manchester City is among 12 nominees for FIFA’s Best Player of the Year award, world football’s governing body announced this Thursday.
The 29-year-old midfielder will be competing for the prize with teammates Julián Alvarez, Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland and Rodri, all European champions for British club Ilkay Gundogan, who also won the Champions League before heading to Barcelona. Marcelo Brozovic (Al-Nasr), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen (Naples), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Declan Rice (Arsenal) and Lionel Messi (Inter Miami).
In the race for best woman, FC Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati, a world champion from Spain, stands out in the field of 16 nominees, along with her compatriots Mapi Leon, Salma Paralluelo, also from Barca, and Jenny Hermoso. , who was involved in a controversy over a kiss on the lips received by Luis Rubiales.
The biggest missing player is Spain’s Alexia Putellas (Barcelona), winner of the 2021 and 2022 tournaments.
The best male coach is Spaniard Pep Guardiola, who led Manchester City to the Premier League, Champions and FA Cup titles, in a group of five names that includes Simone Inzaghi (Inter Milan), Ange Postecoglou (Tottenham), Luciano Spalletti (Naples) and Xavi (Barcelona).
Jorge Vilda, who led Spain to World Cup glory, is not included in the list of top female coaches, but Emma Hayes (Chelsea) and Sarina Wigman (England coach), winners in 2021 and 2022 respectively, are in contention for the scepter. Peter Gerhardsson (Sweden coach), Jonathan Giraldes (Barcelona) and Tony Gustafsson (Australia coach).
Yassin Bounou (Al-Hilal), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Ederson (Manchester City), Andre Onana (Manchester United) and Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona) will compete for the title of best goalkeeper. ).
Mackenzie Arnold (West Ham), Anne-Katrin Berger (Chelsea), Catalina Coll (Barcelona), Mary Earps (Manchester United), Christian Endler (Lyon), Zesira Musovic (Chelsea) ) and Sandra Paños (Barcelona) will compete for the award for the best female goalkeeper.
The nomination evaluation period for women’s football categories ran from 1 August 2022 to 20 August 2023, and for men’s football the nomination period ran from 19 December 2022 to 20 August 2023.
Open voting will last until October 6, and Argentine Lionel Messi, who won in 2022, will again be among those chosen.