LIONEL MESSI is one of 14 players nominated for Fifa’s The Best award – but Cristiano Ronaldo has not made the cut.
Seven clubs are represented on the shortlist with Paris Saint-Germain boasting the most stars.
Four PSG players could win the award including Messi, who is amongst the frontrunners.
He has hit form for his club this season with 13 goals and 14 assists in 20 games.
But it is his World Cup win that could clinch The Best award for Messi, who scored six goals in seven games for Argentina in Qatar.
Messi was recognised as the best player at the World Cup with the Golden Ball award and he could claim his second The Best Fifa award when the winner is announced on February 27.
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The 35-year-old has only won the award once since its inception in 2016 and another win would see him equal Ronaldo’s record of two.
The former Manchester United star has not made the shortlist of candidates for the first time ever following his dreadful start to the season.
The 37-year-old veteran has been replaced with younger stars as Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez is surprisingly nominated for the first time.
He also impressed in Argentina’s World Cup win and has been selected alongside City team-mates Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland, who has scored 27 goals this season.
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Real Madrid also have three players nominated following their Champions League win last year – Karim Benzema, Vinicius Jr and Luka Modric.
PSG trio Neymar, Achraf Hakimi and Kylian Mbappe are also shortlisted, with the latter another favourite for the award.
Elsewhere, Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane, Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski and Mo Salah of Liverpool have a shot of winning.
There is also one England player nominated – Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
