FIFA Best Award: Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe make shortlist, Cristiano Ronaldo left out

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé are competing with six Champions League winners from Manchester City, including Erling Haaland, for the FIFA Best Men’s Player Award.

Messi won last year's FIFA award after leading Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title. He had won the award back in 2019 as well.

Voting will be done by national team captains and coaches, selected journalists plus fans through an online poll through October 6. No date has been announced for the awards ceremony yet.

Messi, who will be hoping to win the award a record 3rd time, faces tough competition from Manchester City star Haaland. The Norwegian forward managed 52 goals in Pep Guardiola's side's treble win last year.

Julián Álvarez, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gündogan, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Declan Rice, Marcelo Brozovic, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen make up the shortlist alongside Messi, Haaland and Mbappe.

There was, however, no place for Cristiano Ronaldo on the shortlist once again.

Also read: World Cup referee Yoshimi Yamashita among first women match officials at Asian Cup

(With AP inputs)