Karim Benzema (France / Real Madrid CF), Lionel Messi (Argentina / PSG) and Kylian Mbappé (France / PSG) will go head-to-head for The Best Men’s Player award on the night of 27th February, 2023 in Paris.
For Karim Benzema, he was instrumental in Real Madrid’s La Liga and Champions League double in the 2021/22 season where he netted 27 goals in the league and was top scorer in the UEFA Champions League with 15 goals. His efforts saw him lift the Ballón d’Or in the season under review. Unfortunately the Frenchman was unavailable for the Les Bleus in the World Cup due to injury but his exploits were enough for him to earn a place on the final three shortlist.
Lionel Messi undoubtedly won the biggest trophy in his footballing career when he captained Argentina to their third World Cup title after defeating France on penalties. After their shock loss to Saudi Arabia, Messi’s leadership role in the team helped to galvanise the South Americans and the diminutive maestro scored seven goals in the process as his team made history. After winning almost everything, it arguable that he has cemented his legacy as the greatest of all time.
24-year old Kylian Mbappé put up a man of the match performance in the final match of the World Cup. He started the comeback for France when they were two goals down 10 minutes to regulation and his two goals in one minute forced the game into extra time where he scored one more goal to put the game into penalties after his club teammate Messi scored for the South Americans. France would go on lose during the shootout but Mbappé stellar performance on the night would see him leave the mundial with the golden boot after scoring eight goals.
Lionel Messi has won this award once since it was christened The Best by FIFA. Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappé are gunning to win the award for the first time in their careers.
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