Lewandowski, Messi and Salah finalists for the FIFA Men’s player award

Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah have been named as the three finalists for The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award 2021.

The attacking trio were announced on a shortlist for the prize in November that also included Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Karim Benzema, Jorginho and N’Golo Kante.

Lewandowski, Messi and Salah are the final nominees chosen following a public vote that closed on December 10 2021. Jennifer Hermoso, Sam Kerr and Alexia Putellas are the finalists for the women’s award for 2021.

The FIFA Men’s player award given to the winner. | PHOTO: FIFA |

The final three up for The Best FIFA Men’s Coach award was also confirmed on Thursday, and are Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, Italy national team tactician Roberto Mancini and Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel. Lluis Cortes, Emma Hayes and Sarina Wiegman are the finalists for the women’s coaching prize.

The player awards will now be decided by an international jury comprising national team coaches and captains, a selected journalist from each territory represented by a national side, and fans registered with FIFA’s website. The winners will be announced on January 17 2022.

Lewandowski, who won the 2020 prize after firing Bayern Munich to the treble, scored 41 times in the Bundesliga last season to break Gerd Muller’s 49-year record for goals in a single season. He ended 2021 with 48 goals in all competitions.

Robert Lewandowski won the FIFA Men’s Player award in 2020. | PHOTO: Goal.com |

Messi, who won the 2021 Ballon d’Or to extend his record of the award to seven trophies, helped Barcelona to win the Copa del Rey in what proved to be his final season at the club. He then inspired Argentina to glory at the Copa America, with four goals and five assists helping them to win the trophy for the first time since 1993.

Liverpool star Salah scored 37 times in all competitions in 2021, at least 15 more than any other Premier League player. He is top of the scoring charts for 2021-22 in England’s top flight with 16, ahead of team-mate Diogo Jota on 10.