Tag: FIFA The Best

FIFA Puskas Award: Watch every 2023 nominee

There will be some fierce competition for the award given to the year’s best goal

FIFA has released a list of 11 goals nominated for the 2023 Puskás Award.

The award was established in 2009 to honor the best goal of the year, and this year there are nominees from all over the globe.

This year, the award’s qualifying period spanned from the end of the men’s World Cup last December until the end of the women’s World Cup on August 20.

MLS is represented through FC Cincinnati’s Álvaro Barreal, whose stunning volley against Pittsburgh in the U.S. Open Cup earned him a place on the shortlist.

Three goals from the women’s World Cup were nominated, including Sam Kerr’s solo effort against England in the semifinal.

The winner will be announced at The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony, with a date for the event yet to be announced.

Here are the 11 nominees for this year’s Puskás Award.

Messi first MLS player named to Best FIFA Men’s Player shortlist

Messi made one more bit of MLS history by making FIFA’s shortlist

Lionel Messi leads a list of 12 nominees on the shortlist for the 2023 Best FIFA Men’s Player award.

Messi is the first player from an MLS club to be nominated for the award, which he has won twice previously in 2019 and 2022.

After his heroics helped Argentina bring home a third World Cup in 2022, Messi is — as is the case with this year’s Ballon d’Or — a solid favorite to win the award.

Messi’s most frequent competitor for big international awards, Cristiano Ronaldo, was left off the list, which instead features no fewer than five current Manchester City players.

Here are all 12 players on the shortlist for the 2023 Best FIFA Men’s Player award.

USWNT captain Horan named in Best FIFA Women’s Player shortlist

Horan is one of 16 players nominated

U.S. women’s national team captain Lindsey Horan was one of 16 players named to the shortlist for the 2023 Best FIFA Women’s Player award.

The prize will be given for performances from August 1, 2022 through August 20, 2023.

Just like the Ballon d’Or, Spain star Aitana Bonmatí will be favored to take home the Best FIFA Women’s Player after winning a double with Barcelona and leading Spain to the World Cup title.

Alexia Putellas, Bonmatí’s teammate for club and country, has won both awards in back-to-back years.

While Sophia Smith made the 30-player shortlist for the Ballon d’Or, the USWNT and Portland Thorns star was not selected among the 16 finalists for the FIFA award. Instead, Horan was nominated after a strong World Cup with the USWNT and helping Lyon to a league title in 2022-23.

Here are all 16 players on the shortlist for the 2023 Best FIFA Women’s Player award.