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Lionel Messi receives the FIFA The Best award in Paris, France, on Feb. 27, 2023. Photo by Reuters |
FIFA announced the 11-player shortlist on Nov. 6, selected by a committee, based on the achievements of players from Aug. 11, 2024, to Aug. 2, 2025.
For the first time since the list’s inception in 2016, Messi is not shortlisted for FIFA’s Best Men’s Player award. The Argentine superstar holds the record with three The Best awards and has been nominated for nine consecutive editions. His nomination last year, despite playing in MLS, was considered a surprise and he finished sixth overall.
Messi was not the only major star absent. Ronaldo, who has been honored twice, failed to make the list for the fourth consecutive year, having last been nominated in 2021.
Haaland, nominated for the previous four editions, was also left off the list. Despite scoring 34 goals in the 2024-2025 season, Manchester City’s early exit in the Champions League prevented Haaland’s inclusion.
The 2025 shortlist is dominated by players from PSG and Barcelona. PSG boasts four names — Ousmane Dembele, Achraf Hakimi, Vitinha, and Nuno Mendes, while Barcelona has three — Pedri, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.
The list is rounded out by Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) and Cole Palmer (Chelsea).
The favorites for the award are Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal, who finished first and second, respectively, in the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
Dembele is considered the number one contender to win The Best this year, thanks to his stellar treble-winning season with PSG.
In the Best Coach category, PSG manager Luis Enrique is nominated alongside Arne Slot (Liverpool), Mikel Arteta (Arsenal) and Hansi Flick (Barcelona). In women’s football, Aitana Bonmati, fresh off her third consecutive Ballon d’Or win, leads the nominations.
The Best award was established by FIFA in 2016 after ending its cooperation with France Football for the Ballon d’Or. The winner is decided equally by four voting groups: coaches and captains of national teams, journalists and online votes of fans.
Votings for the award will conclude on Nov. 28.
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