Osimhen Battle Messi, Haaland for 2023 FIFA The Best Men’s Player Award

Osimhen Battle Messi, Haaland for 2023 FIFA The Best Men’s Player Award

Ibrahim Lateef 

Super Eagles red-hot striker Victor Osimhen has been rated best African player for last season after been listed among the world football A list stars for the 2023 FIFA The Best Men’s Player Award, BSNSports reports.

The last 12 months have seen both the men's and women's World Cups take place, with voting for the awards taking into account the period from 1 August 2022 up to and including 20 August 2023.

The 24-year-old nomination, is his second in a week after he made the 30-man shortlist for the 2023 Ballon d’Or Men’s Player Award.

Osimhen who claimed the Paolo Rossi award for finishing top scorer in Serie A last season with 26 goals, became the first African player to win the award in Serie A’s 125-year history.

His stellar performance, did also see his club, Napoli claim their first Italian title - the Scudetto after 33 years.

The Nigerian will hope to make the final cut, as current holder, Lionel Messi of Inter Miami leads the 11-man list of nominees.

Messi won the Ligue 1 title with PSG last season and was named in the Ligue 1 team of the year.

PSG forward Kylian Mbappe who finished as the runner-up in 2022 also made the list. 

Others who made the list are Manchester City quintet of 

Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Bernardo Silva, Julian Alvarez and Rodri.

Osimhen's Napoli strike partner Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Marcelo Brozovic (Inter/Al Nassr) and Declan Rice (West Ham/Arsenal).

Fans can vote in the various categories by visiting the FIFA website until Friday 6 October.