The announcement of the 11-player shortlist for The Greatest FIFA Males’s Participant 2024 award has despatched shockwaves by way of the soccer neighborhood. Followers have taken to social media to specific outrage and disbelief, significantly over the inclusion of Lionel Messi, who has turn into a focus for controversy. With the ceremony scheduled for January 2025, the checklist is stirring heated debates about advantage, snubs, and whether or not Messi’s latest achievements warrant a spot among the many world’s elite.
On Thursday night time, FIFA revealed the names of 11 nominees chosen based mostly on their performances from August 21, 2023, to August 10, 2024. Among the many high-profile gamers are stars like Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Toni Kroos, Vinicius, and Rodri. Nonetheless, some notable absentees—Mohamed Salah, Harry Kane, and Cole Palmer—left followers puzzled.
The whole checklist of nominees consists of:
Dani CarvajalErling HaalandFederico ValverdeFlorian WirtzJude BellinghamKylian MbappeLamine YamalLionel MessiRodriToni KroosVinicius
Of the 11 gamers, 10 have been beforehand nominated for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, the place all of them positioned inside the highest 17. Messi’s inclusion stands out as a result of, for the primary time since 2005, he was not a Ballon d’Or finalist—a reality followers have seized upon to criticize his nomination.
Messi’s inclusion: Benefit or nostalgia?
Messi’s choice has sparked intense backlash. Followers took to social media platform X (previously Twitter) to specific their disbelief.
“What precisely did Messi do to make this checklist?” one fan requested, whereas one other exclaimed, “What’s Messi doing there?” Others questioned the method itself: “This may’t be potential. Does the World Cup rely yearly?”. The absence of Salah drew ire as effectively, with one person lamenting, “The disrespect to Salah is constant.”
Regardless of the skepticism, the Argentine’s 12 months wasn’t devoid of accomplishments. His transfer to Inter Miami was a high-profile occasion in 2023, the place he performed in 14 matches, scoring 10 objectives within the Leagues Cup, which Miami gained—their first-ever piece of silverware. Nonetheless, his influence in MLS was extra modest.
In 2024, the 37-year-old’s efficiency improved. He featured in 19 MLS video games, netting 20 objectives and contributing 10 assists. Regardless of serving to Miami obtain a file 74 factors and securing the Supporters’ Protect, his crew faltered within the playoffs, exiting within the first spherical in opposition to Atlanta United. His former coach, Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, was subsequently changed by Javier Mascherano, one in all Messi’s former teammates.
Messi’s standout second got here on the Copa America, the place he captained Argentina to victory in July 2024. He began 5 of Argentina’s six matches and performed an important function all through the match. The emotional peak got here within the closing in opposition to Colombia, the place Messi, visibly moved after being substituted because of an harm, witnessed Lautaro Martínez rating the extra-time winner to safe a 1-0 victory.
Notable omissions and fierce competitors
Messi isn’t the one speaking level. Followers have been equally shocked by the omission of Mohamed Salah from the 22-man shortlist for FIFA’s Males’s 11. In the meantime, Manchester Metropolis’s Rodri and Erling Haaland are the one nominees from the Premier League, each key gamers in Metropolis’s historic fourth consecutive league title. Haaland’s record-breaking aim tally and Rodri’s dominance in midfield make them frontrunners.
Jude Bellingham, who has shone since his transfer to Actual Madrid, can also be among the many high contenders, aiming to turn into the primary Englishman to win the award. At simply 21, Bellingham already secured third place within the Ballon d’Or and hopes to interrupt new floor with a FIFA win.
The award will likely be determined by an equal break up of votes from followers, nationwide crew captains, coaches, and media representatives. Ought to Messi clinch the award, it could mark his eighth victory, cementing his legacy as one of many biggest ever. However with the fierce competitors from gamers like Haaland, Bellingham, and Rodri, his probabilities stay unsure.
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