Super Eagles and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has been shortlisted for The Best FIFA Men’s Player award and will slug it out with other stars such as Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, Mbappe, Declan Rice amongst others.
The nomination means the Nigerian is considered to be one of the top 12 best footballers in the world by the world football governing body FIFA, organizers of the award.
Osimhen who was recently named in the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or has been one of the most in-form players in Europe in the past year. He helped Napoli to their first Italian Serie A title in 33 years also becoming the first African player to win the Golden Boot in the league.
He also led Napoli to their first-ever UEFA Champions League quarter-final place before the team lost to AC Milan, mainly due to his absence in the first leg due to injury.
Other players shortlisted for the award are Julián Álvarez (Argentina); Marcelo Brozović (Croatia); Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium); İlkay Gündoğan (Germany); Erling Haaland (Norway); Rodri (Spain); Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia); Kylian Mbappé (France); Lionel Messi (Argentina); Victor Osimhen (Nigeria); Declan Rice (England); Bernardo Silva (Portugal).
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A group of football experts carefully selected the finalists from a pool of candidates put together by FIFA, taking into account their accomplishments during the relevant award qualification periods. The ultimate recipients of the player, goalkeeper, and coach awards will be determined by a global panel of coaches, team captains, reporters, and supporters.
