FIFA has announced that Juventus attacker Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich hitman Robert Lewandowski are the three finalists The Best FIFA Men’s Player.
On November 25, a shortlist of 11 players was unveiled for the prize, with Bayern striker leading the charge after a prolific campaign in which he led his club to a domestic treble amid a flurry of goals.
The women’s award will be contested between Manchester City defender Lucy Bronze, Chelsea forward Pernille Harder and Lyon defender Wendie Renard.
🥁 Introducing the finalists for The Best FIFA Men's Player 2020 🏆
🇵🇹 @Cristiano
🇵🇱 @lewy_official
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi#TheBest | #FIFAFootballAwards pic.twitter.com/II15QxBxG4— FIFA (@FIFAcom) December 11, 2020
Ronaldo and Messi are also among the contestants for the trophy of the best footballer of the century – between 2001 and 2020 -, together with the Egyptian Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) and with the former Brazilian international Ronaldinho.
In the category of best club of the year, up for the award is Liverpool, English champion after 30 years, Real Madrid, Spanish champions, and Bayern Munich, German champions who won the last edition of the Champions League.
In addition, Liverpool coaches Jürgen Klopp (winner in 2019) and Bayern coach Hans-Dieter Flick will fight Atalanta’s Italian Gian Piero Gasperini for the best coach award in 2020.
Portuguese coach José Mourinho, now in charge of Tottenham, completes the quartet of finalists for the prize of best coach of the century, together with Spanish Pep Guardiola, French Zinedine Zidane and Scottish Alex Ferguson, although already retired. While the prize for best Club of the century will be handed over to Al-Ahly (Egypt), Real Madrid (Spain), Bayern Munich (Germany) or FC Barcelona (Spain).
