FIFA Player of the Year is first selected by the FIFA Expert Group, and then the national team coach, national team captain, football reporter and fans registered with FIFA vote for the final winner from the shortlist. The voting weight of coach, captain, reporter and fans is 1/4. The previous shortlist was 14, and Messi, Benzema and Mbappé were shortlisted.
Messi led the Argentine national team to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which was the first World Cup champion in Messi's career. This championship also makes Messi the most popular candidate for FIFA Men's Football Player of the Year. Benzema missed FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in 2022 due to injury, but he won the Champions League in Real Madrid last season. Mbappé entered the World Cup finals with the French national team and scored a hat trick in the final.
Earlier, FIFA officials also announced the final three finalists of other FIFA annual best awards. The best men's football coach awards are: Guardiola, Scaroni and Ancelotti; The best goalkeeper awards are: Martinez, courtois, Bunu; The best women's football player awards are: patra (Spanish), Meade (UK) and Morgan (USA); Bumpass Tito (Lyon), Pia (Brazil) and Weigmann (England) are the best women's coach awards.