Messi headlines shortlist for FIFA Best Men's Player award

12.01.2023 - 20:27 rte.ie

Argentina featured heavily in shortlists for FIFA's Best awards following their World Cup triumph, with forwards Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and coach Lionel Scaloni receiving nominations in their categories.Messi, along with his Paris St Germain team mate Kylian Mbappe and Manchester City's Erling Haaland, are among the 14 players shortlisted for The Best FIFA Men's Player award.The trio are joined by last year's winner Robert Lewandowski of Barcelona, Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah.Barca and Arsenal dominate the women's award with three players each including Alexia Putellas, Keira Walsh and Aitana Bonmati for the Spanish champions while the English side are represented by Leah Williamson, Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead.Chelsea duo Sam Kerr and Jessie Fleming and Olympique Lyonnais' Ada Hegerberg and Wendie Renard also make the cut.Sarina Wiegman, who led England to Euros success last year, is joined on The Best FIFA Women's Coach shortlist by Chelsea's Emma Hayes and Germany manager Martina Voss-Tecklenburg.Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti and Manchester City's Pep Guardiola are nominated for the men's award, along with Argentina's Scaloni, France boss Didier Deschamps and Morocco manager Walid Regragui.Liverpool's Alisson Becker, Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois and Aston Villa's Martinez are among the nominees for The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper award.FIFA said it will announce the three finalists in each category in early February.FIFA also announced an 11-player shortlist for this year's Puskas Award for the 'most beautiful' goal of the year, with Mbappe's spectacular volley against Argentina in the World Cup final among the nominees.

FIFA soccer Sport Headlines player Didier Deschamps Lionel Messi Alexia Putellas Robert Lewandowski Paris St Germain Vivianne Miedema Emma Hayes Sam Kerr Kevin De-Bruyne Carlo Ancelotti Emiliano Martinez Lionel Scaloni Julian Alvarez Leah Williamson Jessie Fleming Beth Mead Sarina Wiegman Keira Walsh Ada Hegerberg Walid Regragui Britain Manchester France Germany Spain Argentina Morocco county Becker

BUENOS AIRES: Lionel Messi won the World Cup because the sparkling solid gold trophy picked him to lift it, the Argentine star said in a radio interview aired on Monday (Jan 30).

Messi says World Cup trophy 'called out' to him

The 35-year-old inspired his country to World Cup glory last month by scoring two goals and a penalty in the South Americans' shoot-out triumph over previous holders France following a thrilling 3-3 draw in Qatar. "The cup called out to me, it told me: come and grab me, now you can touch me," Messi told the Argentine Urbana Play radio station. "I saw it sparkling in that beautiful stadium and I didn't hesitate" to kiss it, he added, referring to the stunning Lusail Stadium in Doha, where the final was played. Messi finally lifted the trophy in his fifth and final World Cup tournament, having lost in the 2014 final to Germany. He also played in three losing Copa America finals before finally clinching that trophy in 2021. "After so much suffering and lost finals, God kept it for me," said Messi of the World Cup. He thus became the first Argentina captain since Diego Maradona in 1986 to lift the World Cup. "I would have liked Maradona to hand me the cup, so he could at least see Argentina champions." Maradona died of a heart attack two years ago. "From up above he gave me strength, as did so many people who love me." Many people expected Messi to retire, at least from international duty, after the Qatar triumph but he decided to continue so he could take to the field with his teammates as world champions.

Rashford must stay for Man United to succeed, says Ten Hag

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said Marcus Rashford is central to his plans to make them the "best club in the world" and urged the forward to remain at Old Trafford to realise his ambitions.

Rashford is key to my United plans, insists ten Hag

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said Marcus Rashford is central to his plans to make them the "best club in the world" and urged the forward to remain at Old Trafford to realise his ambitions.