Zurich: France’s World Cup star Kylian Mbappe joined regulars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi on the shortlist for the ‘Best FIFA Men’s Player’ award, world football’s governing body (FIFA) announced, Tuesday.
Ronaldo, who has won the award for the last two years, helped Real Madrid claim a third consecutive Champions League crown before securing a close season transfer to Juventus. Argentine forward Messi topped the scoring charts with 34 goals in Barcelona’s third La Liga title win in the last four seasons.
The 19-year-old Mbappe, who was joined by compatriot Antoine Griezmann and Raphael Varane on the 10-man shortlist, followed up a domestic treble with Paris St Germain with a string of impressive performances in France’s World Cup winning campaign.
He became only the second teenager after Pele to score in a World Cup final as France powered past Croatia 4-2 to win the sport’s top prize for the second time, 20 years after their first triumph.
England full back Lucy Bronze, who won the European crown in her first season with Lyon, was nominated for the ‘FIFA Women’s Player of the Year’ award. The 26-year-old is one of six Lyon players on the shortlist, featuring alongside Ada Hegerberg, Saki Kumagai, Dzsenifer Marozsan and French duo Amandine Henry and Wendie Renard.
The three finalists for each award will be revealed at a later date, with the winners to be announced in a ceremony in London on Sept. 24.
List of nominees for ‘Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year’
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid/Juventus), Kevin de Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City), Antoine Griezmann (France/Atletico Madrid),
Eden Hazard (Belgium/Chelsea), Harry Kane (England/Tottenham Hotspur), Kylian Mbappe (France/PSG), Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona),
Luka Modric (Croatia/Real Madrid), Mohammed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Raphael Varane (France/Real Madrid).
Beating all odds
Paris: France striker Kylian Mbappe has revealed he played the World Cup semifinal (against Belgium) and final (against Croatia) with a back injury he hid from his rivals. In an interview with France Football magazine, Mbappe said he displaced three vertebrae in his back during the Russia event three days before their last four game. “It was essential not to alert our opponents, otherwise they could have taken advantage of that and targeted the sensitive area,” said Mbappe, who scored four goals in the tournament including one in the final. “That’s the reason why we kept it hidden, even for the final.”