Messi and Bonmati Nominated for FIFA Best Player Awards

• Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe are finalists for the FIFA Men’s Best Player award at the upcoming ceremony
• Aitana Bonmati, Jenni Hermoso, and Linda Caicedo are nominated for the FIFA Women’s Best Player award, showcasing global football talent

World football’s governing body, FIFA, announced the finalists for the Best Player of the Year awards on Thursday, with Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmati among the selected nominees.

Lionel Messi, who secured a record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or in October, is a contender for the FIFA Men’s Best Player award. His competitors for the prestigious title include Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.

On the women’s side, Aitana Bonmati, the winner of the women’s Ballon d’Or after her standout performances in Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory, is nominated for the FIFA Women’s Best Player award. She faces competition from her Spain teammate Jenni Hermoso and Colombian teenage sensation Linda Caicedo.

The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on January 15, where the football community will eagerly anticipate the announcement of the winners in both the men’s and women’s categories.

I almost followed Cristiano Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia — Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi, now with Inter Miami, disclosed that he seriously contemplated joining the Saudi Professional League, closely following the footsteps of his longtime rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. This consideration arose when it became evident that his time at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) was coming to an end.

The 36-year-old football icon, a sought-after talent last summer, had interest from Barcelona, Inter Miami, and Al-Hilal. Ultimately, Messi opted for a move to the USA, but he recently admitted that he gave serious thought to the tempting offer from the Gulf nation.

Messi, who was named TIME magazine’s Athlete of the Year, shared in an interview that his initial preference was to return to Barcelona after departing PSG. However, given the financial challenges faced by the club, a feasible deal couldn’t materialize at that time.

Reflecting on his decision-making process, Messi revealed, “I was thinking a lot about going to the Saudi League, where I know the country. They have created a very powerful competition that can become an important league in the near future. As the country’s tourism ambassador, it was a destination that attracted me.”