World Football governing body, FIFA, has unveiled an 11-man nominee shortlist for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024.
There are 77 nominations, of which Africans made scant appearances.
In the main categories of The Best Men and The Best Women where there are 11 nominees in each, only two African women footballers made the cut.
They are Malawi’s national women’s team captain, Tabitha Chawinga and Zambia’s Barbra Banda.
Both are also in contention for the African Women’s Footballer of the Year holding in December in Morocco
The only other African in contention for an award at The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024 is Algeria’s Yassine Benzia whose goal against South Africa is one of the five shortlisted for the Puskas Award.
Malawi’s Tabitha Chawinga played for Paris Saint-Germain and is currently on loan to Olympique Lyonnais.
Barbra Banda, a key figure in Zambia’s qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics plays for Orlando Pride in South Africa.
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Voting is now open on FIFA’s official website across a number of award categories, with fans set to play a key role in choosing the winners.
The voting will be equally weighted between fans, the current captains and coaches of all women’s/men’s national teams, and media representatives.
The Best FIFA Men’s Player nominees:
Dani Carvajal (Spain), Real Madrid
Erling Haaland (Norway), Manchester City
Federico Valverde (Uruguay), Real Madrid
Florian Wirtz (Germany), Bayer Leverkusen
Jude Bellingham (England), Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe (France), Paris Saint-Germain/Real Madrid
Lamine Yamal (Spain), Barcelona
Lionel Messi (Argentina), Inter Miami
Rodri (Spain), Manchester City
Toni Kroos (Germany), Real Madrid (now retired)
Vinicius Jr (Brazil), Real Madrid.
Nominees for The Best FIFA Women’s Player
Aitana Bonmati (Spain, Barcelona)
Barbra Banda (Zambia, Shanghai Shengli/Orlando Pride)
Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway, Barcelona)
Keira Walsh (England, Barcelona)
Khadija Shaw (Jamaica, Manchester City)
Lauren Hemp (England, Manchester City)
Lindsey Horan (USA, Olympique Lyonnais)
Lucy Bronze (England, Barcelona/Chelsea)
Mallory Swanson (USA, Chicago Red Stars)
Mariana Caldentey (Spain, Barcelona/Arsenal)
Naomi Girma (USA, San Diego Wave)
Ona Bathe (Spain, Barcelona)
Salma Paralluelo (Spain, Barcelona)
Sophia Smith (USA, Portland Thorns)
Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi, Paris Saint-Germain/Olympique Lyonnais)
Trinity Rodman (USA, Washington Spirit).
Nominees for The Best FIFA Women’s Coach
Arthur Elias (Brazil, Brazil)
Elena Sadiku (Sweden, Celtic)
Emma Hayes (England, Chelsea/USA)
Futoshi Ikeda (Japan, Japan)
Gareth Taylor (England, Manchester City)
Jonatan Giraldez (Spain, Barcelona/Washington Spirit)
Sandrine Soubeyrand (France, Paris FC)
Sonia Bompastor (France, Olympique Lyonnais/Chelsea).
Nominees for The Best FIFA Men’s Coach
Carlo Ancelotti (Italy, Real Madrid)
Lionel Scaloni (Argentina, Argentina)
Luis de la Fuente (Spain, Spain)
Pep Guardiola (Spain, Manchester City)
Xabi Alonso (Spain, Bayer Leverkusen).
Nominees For Best Gatekeeper Female
Alyssa Naeher (USA, Chicago Red Stars)
Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany, Chelsea/NJ/NY Gotham)
Ayaka Yamashita (Japan, INAC Kobe Leonessa/Manchester City)
Cata Coll (Spain, Barcelona)
Mary Earps (England, Manchester United/Paris Saint-Germain).
Nominees for The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper
Andriy Lunin (Ukraine, Real Madrid)
David Raya (Spain, Arsenal)
Ederson (Brazil, Manchester City)
