Cristiano Ronaldo has been dropped from the shortlist of 14 players nominated for the FIFA Best Player award, his first career. Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe have been selected.
Fired off the bench and then off the bench by Manchester United at the recent World Cup, Ronaldo won the honor in their first two caps – in 2016 and 2017 – and was runner-up in the next three. It was the first time he wasn’t even among the candidates to obtain it.
The honor was renamed in 2016 after a six-year period in which the FIFA Best Player award was paired with the Ballon d’Or.
Ronaldo finished seventh in the voting last year, when Robert Lewandowski won the title for the second time – ahead of Messi and Mohamed Salah. The 37-year-old Portuguese star joined Saudi club Al-Nasr last month, potentially ending his European career.
The ballot brings together the captains and coaches of the national teams, as well as some handpicked journalists. Additionally, supporters can cast their ballots in a vote that will close on February 3.
The winners will be announced on February 27, during a ceremony in Paris.
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