FIFA publishes 14 candidates for world footballer election - FC Bayern is also represented

FIFA is looking for its world footballer 2022 and thus successor to Robert Lewandowski.

Now fans can vote online.

A current FC Bayern professional has also made it onto the shortlist.

Munich – Sometimes life offers a second chance.

Even in professional football.

About potential world footballers.

Because since FIFA and the French trade magazine

crowned their title holders separately, there has been a world footballer of the world association and a winner of the Ballon d'Or who has received at least as much fame and honor.

Even before the World Cup in Qatar, Karim Benzema, who then missed the tournament injured, was awarded the Golden Ball.

Now the Frenchman could succeed in a double strike – like Lionel Messi last did in 2019.

Benzema is on a shortlist of 14 names published by FIFA.

Among them is a professional from FC Bayern: Sadio Mane, who came second in the Ballon d'Or and was previously voted Africa's footballer of the year.

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Can he do the hat trick?

After two triumphs in FIFA's World Player Choices, Robert Lewandowski is more of an outsider this year.

© IMAGO / NurPhoto

World footballer choice of FIFA: Messi and Lewandowski next to Mane on the shortlist - Ronaldo is missing

However, since the Senegalese also had to watch the World Cup due to injury, he is not necessarily one of the favorites for “The Best FIFA Football Awards” on February 27.

Unlike the newly crowned world champion Messi.

Defending champion Robert Lewandowski can also have hopes, even if he was not able to repeat the performance of his time at FC Bayern in the first half of the year at FC Barcelona.

With Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund, a second Bundesliga professional is represented alongside Sane.

In addition, Erling Haaland is another player who was active in Germany at least in the first half of the period under review.

In addition to Messi and Benzema, Kylian Mbappe and Luka Modric are more likely to end up well ahead after strong World Cup appearances.

On the other hand, Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won the title five times, is missing from the shortlist.

But 2022 wasn't the Portuguese's year either.

FIFA World Players: The 14 candidates at a glance

FIFA is looking for world footballers: the coaches include two former Bayern coaches

In the meantime, the German series will come to an end when the world coach is elected.

Both Jürgen Klopp, who was successful in 2019 and 2020, and last year's winner Thomas Tuchel did not make it onto the list of five candidates.

However, there are two former Bayern Munich coaches in Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) and Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid).

There are also three national coaches: Lionel Scaloni (Argentina), Didier Deschamps (France) and Walid Regragui (Morocco).

There is no name from Säbener Straße in the other categories either.

Alisson Becker (Liverpool FC), Morocco goalkeeper Yassine "Bono" Bonou (Seville FC), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Ederson (Manchester City) and world champion Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa) are available as world goalkeepers.

A year ago, Manuel Neuer was third here after winning the 2020 prize, which FIFA itself awarded in 2017.

Video: Messi scores in PSG comeback after world title

The lists were compiled by two groups of experts, the world association announced.

He now has the various prizes in the categories world footballer, world footballer, world coach women, world coach men, world goalkeeper, world goalkeeper and Puskas prize (most beautiful goal) voted on the internet.

So the choice is in the hands of the fans.

The deadline is February 3 at 11:59 p.m. Central European Time.

The three finalists in each category will be announced in early February.