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The hours are gradually winding down to the big ceremony where The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2019 will be announced. Competition for the prestigious individual award has never been keener, with the top contenders running a very close race.
Some weeks ago, the world’s football governing body announced a 10-man shortlist for this year’s award. The list was, however, later reduced to just the top three contenders.
As such, Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona magician Lionel Messi and Liverpool sensation Virgil van Dijk will go head to head for this year's The Best FIFA Men’s Player.
The votes over who emerges winner will be decided by media representatives, national team coaches and national team captains.
So, as we draw ever so closer to the big ceremony, we take a look at the top three contenders for the 2019 The Best FIFA Men’s Player:
#3 Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo has won The Best FIFA Men’s Player award three times already but it is currently looking unlikely that the Portuguese will record another triumph this year. The 34-year-old has enjoyed a good year so far, but it has still been below his own high standards.
At club level, Ronaldo scored 21 goals and recorded eight more assists in the Serie A. His goal tally in the UEFA Champions League wasn’t too encouraging, though, as he managed just six goals in Juventus’ run to the quarter-finals.
The Juve star, however, finished the season with two trophies – the league and Supercoppa Italiana – before helping Portugal to win the maiden edition of the UEFA Nations League.
Ronaldo may have played just two games in that Nations League triumph, but his hat-trick in the semi-final against Switzerland was what ensured Portugal qualified for the final in the first place. At 34, Ronaldo is still dominating world football and earning a place among the top three contenders for the Best FIFA Men’s Player award is deserved.
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#2 Lionel Messi
Once again Lionel Messi is a strong contender for The Best FIFA Men’s Player award, having put up impressive performances in the year under review. The Barcelona superstar has been blighted by injury this season but his numbers in the last campaign cannot be ignored.
The Argentine scored more goals than any player in Europe last season, winning the top scorer award in the LaLiga and the UEFA Champions League. Messi netted 36 goals in the Spanish top flight and added 10 more in the Champions League.
These are monstrous numbers for any player and that is why, at 32, Messi is still regarded among the best players in the world. Although he endured disappointment with Argentina in the Copa America, Messi still led Barca to the LaLiga and also scooped the European Golden Shoe.
By all standards, it has been a special year for Messi and no one will begrudge him should he win this year’s Best FIFA Men’s Player award.
#1 Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk is currently the big favourite to win The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2019. The Liverpool centre-back has been in imperious form in the year under review and no one comes close to him at the moment.
The Dutchman has led Liverpool to over 40 clean sheets since the start of the 2018/2019 season and continues to make his presence felt in defence. Also, van Dijk played an instrumental role as the Netherlands made it to the final of the maiden edition of the UEFA Nations League, eventually won by Portugal.
Throughout last season, no player managed to dribble past him – a record which was just recently broken by Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe. But, overall, van Dijk has matched every other player in the world in terms of performance in the year under review.
For whatever number of goals the other contenders have scored, the Liverpool man equally achieved as much in defence. And, having already won the UEFA Player of the Year award, where he beat both Ronaldo and Messi, van Dijk is on course to add The Best FIFA Men’s Player award to his cabinet too.
