FIFA announce The Best shortlist with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi battling for best player

Robert Lewandowski will be looking to fend off competition from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to be crowned men’s player of the year after FIFA unveiled the shortlist for their annual The Best awards.

Lewandowski’s goal scoring exploits with Bayern Munich helped fire them to Champions League glory back in August and he will be favourite to win the award in front of Ronaldo and Messi, with the latter lifting the accolade in 2019.

There is a surprise in nomination for the best men’s manager though with Marcelo Bielsa being named on the three-man shortlist after helping Leeds United back into the Premier League for the first time in sixteen years.

The popular Argentine is up against Jurgen Klopp, who won the award in 2019 and is nominated again off the back of guiding Liverpool to a first Premier League title in 30 years.

Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick is also in contention having masterminded Bayern’s return to the summit of European football less than a year after taking charge of the German giants.

More to follow…