The top three nominees for the male and female categories of the 2022 FIFA Best Player awards have been unveiled with Arsenal forward Beth Mead and PSG star Lionel Messi shortlisted.
Mead, who won the Golden Boot and player of the tournament awards as she helped England win Euro 2022, is up for the Best FIFA women’s player.
The England forward is up against Spain’s Alexia Putellas and Alex Morgan of the United States barely months after returning from a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury.
The 27-year-old, who finished second to Putellas in the women’s player category at the 2022 Ballon d’Or, scored six goals and provided five assists at Euro 2022.
Messi, who inspired Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup, scoring seven goals and being named best player is nominated for the men’s award.
The Paris St-Germain forward is up against club-mate Kylian Mbappe – whose France side were beaten by Messi’s Argentina in the final – and Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.
FIFA’s ‘The Best’ awards cover games played between 7 August 2021 and 31 July 2022 – the day of the Euros final.
The winners will be announced on 27 February in a grand ceremony in Paris.