Egypt international and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been nominated for the 2018 FIFA best player award, football world governing body announced on Monday.
He was shortlisted along with Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal / Juventus) and Luka Modric (Croatia / Real Madrid).
The trio last met in Monaco during the UEFA best player award ceremony which was won by the Croatian for his role in Real Madrid’s Champions League triumph and for steering his nation to the runner-up position in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
For the first time in 11 years, Argentina Captain, Lionel Messi is not among the three players shortlisted by FIFA for the Best Football Awards.
The finalists for this year’s world football’s premium awards event also include Brazil’s Marta, Zinédine Zidane, Asako Takakura and Hugo Lloris, amongst the nominees.
The federation revealed that the winner of the Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award will be chosen by a specialist panel, while the winners of The Best FIFA Men’s Player, Women’s Player, Men’s Coach and Women’s Coach awards will be determined by 25 per cent votes from national team coaches, national team captains, select media representatives, including The Guardian’s Christian Okpara, and 25 per cent online vote.
In a ceremony in London witnessed by such FIFA legends as Nigeria’s Nwankwo Kanu, Sol Campbell, Kelly Smith, and Peter Schmeichel, the nominees were recognised for their achievements in elite football between July 2017 and July 2018 – a period that saw the 2018 FIFA World Cup take place in Russia.
“In a year that was filled with drama, action and excitement across both the men’s and women’s game, The Best FIFA Football Awards 2018 look set to build on the success of 2017’s event and return to London bigger and better than ever.
“The winners will be crowned at the Royal Festival Hall (Southbank) on September 24 2018, where the great and good of world football will descend upon the city to celebrate the very “best” the sport has to offer,” a statement by FIFA read.
Nominations for the Best
Men’s Player
Cristiano Ronaldo (POR/Juventus, formerly Real Madrid)
Luka Modric (CRO/Real Madrid)
Mohamed Salah (EGY/Liverpool)
Women’s Player
Ada Hegerberg (NOR/Olympique Lyon Feminin)
Dzsenifer Marozsan (GER/Olympique Lyon Feminin)
Marta (BRA/Orlando Pride)
Men’s Coach
Zlatko Dalic (CRO/Croatia national team)
Didier Deschamps (FRA/France national team)
Zinedine Zidane (FRA/formerly Real Madrid)
Women’s Coach
Reynald Pedros (FRA/Olympique Lyon Feminin)
Asako Takakura (JPN/Japan women’s national team)
Sarina Wiegman (NED/Netherlands women’s national team)
Goalkeeper
Thibaut Courtois (BEL/Real Madrid, formerly Chelsea)
Hugo Lloris (FRA/Tottenham Hotspur)
Kasper Schmeichel (DEN/Leicester City)
Puskas Award
Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
Denis Cheryshev (Russia)
Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (AEK Athens)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Cruzeiro)
Riley McGree (Newcastle Jets)
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Benjamin Pavard (France)
Ricardo Quaresma (Portugal)
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Fan Award
Sebastián Carrera (CD Puerto Montt)
Japan and Senegal supporters
Peru supporters
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