The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2022: Who’s in the running and how the vote works
Across Canada and the United States fans will note the ceremony to crown the year’s top FIFA player is set for February 27. The reveal period for the 2022 The Best FIFA Men’s Player award has wrapped, presenting a shortlist of 14 contenders for the calendar year 2022. The list features Julián Álvarez, Jude Bellingham, Karim Benzema, Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Achraf Hakimi, Robert Lewandowski, Sadio Mané, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Luka Modrić, Neymar, Mohamed Salah, and Vinícius Júnior.
The award honors the best performer from the 2022 season. Among observers, Karim Benzema stands out thanks to Ballon d’Or recognition, a domestic league title, and Champions League glory, while Lionel Messi is celebrated for guiding Argentina to a World Cup triumph and collecting multiple Ballon d’Or awards. The general consensus points to Benzema and Messi as the leading contenders for The Best in 2022.
Understanding the voting process for The Best Award presented by FIFA
The voting window is open through the February 27 ceremony. The process divides voters into four groups, each contributing 25 percent to the final score: journalists, national team captains, selected national team coaches, and fan votes. This structure brings professional insights together with fan participation to reflect a player’s impact across different aspects of the game.
For fans in North America, the procedure mirrors international practice and emphasizes a wide range of opinions to determine the year’s premier player. The setup aims to balance expert judgment with broad spectator voices, offering a holistic view of a player’s influence on the field and beyond.