• Lionel Messi was shortlisted for the FIFA Best Male Player award.
• Alexia Putellas and Beth Mead are also candidates.
• On February 27, a ceremony will be held in Paris to announce the winners.

The shortlist for the FIFA Best Male Player award includes Karim Benzema of Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe of Paris St. Germain, and Argentina forward Lionel Messi, the world governing body of soccer revealed on Friday.

After helping Argentina win their third World Cup title by defeating Mbappe’s France in last year’s final in Qatar, scoring seven goals throughout the competition, and winning his second Golden ball, Messi may win his second The Best award.

Mbappe, the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner for France, and Benzema, the winner of the World Cup’s Golden Boot, both make their debut appearances among the three finalists.

Despite being sidelined since July with a knee injury, Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas could win the Best Women’s Player award for the second year in a row.

Forward Beth Mead is another candidate, having helped England win the Euro 2022 championship as the competition’s top scorer and best player.

The list is completed by American forward Alex Morgan, a finalist in 2019.

On February 27, a ceremony will be held in Paris to announce the winners.

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