Lionel Messi, France star player, Kylian Mbappe, and Karim Benzema were named the three finalists for FIFA’s The Best award for last year, on Friday.
Alexia Putellas of Spain, England forward Beth Mead, and US star Alex Morgan were all nominated for the top women’s prize.
Messi and Mbappe, who played against each other in last year’s World Cup final, are competing with Benzema to succeed Robert Lewandowski, who won the FIFA award in 2020 and 2021.
Benzema won the Ballon d’Or last year for his performances with Real Madrid but was ruled out of the World Cup due to injury.
Putellas, a Barcelona and Spain midfielder, won the award last year and is nominated again this year despite being out since July after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee.
Arsenal striker Beth Mead, who finished second to Putellas for the Ballon d’Or in October, is also out with a long-term knee injury.
The winners will be announced in Paris on February 27. A jury comprised of national team coaches and captains, as well as journalists and fans, will vote for them.
There are also awards for the best male and female coach, the best goalkeeper, and the Puskas Award for the best 2022 goal.