Barcelona’s Xavi, Gundogan, and Ter Stegen nominated for FIFA’s ‘The Best’ Awards

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After the nominations for the Ballon d’Or ceremony emerged earlier this month, FIFA have now announced the contenders for their “The Best” Awards.

The Best FIFA Football Awards is a football award presented annually by the sport’s governing body, with the first ceremony having been held in January 2017.

FIFA honours “The Best” Player, Goalkeeper, Coach, in both men’s and women’s football, while announcing the “Best FIFPro XI” of the best-performing players for that year.

And with the nominees for the 2023 edition of the Awards being announced earlier, as many as three Barcelona players are in contention to bag home the prize.

For starters, new signing Ilkay Gundogan finds himself in the running for The Best FIFA Men’s Player, after leading Manchester City to a treble last season.

The German international has competition from Barça legend Lionel Messi, and former Man City teammates Bernardo Silva, Rodri, and Erling Haaland, among others.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is in the running for The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper, after enjoying an extraordinary 2022/23 season during which he broke several records and helped Barcelona win the La Liga crown.

He will be up against Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, Man City’s Ederson, and Andre Onana of Manchester United, among others.

Finally, Xavi Hernandez has been nominated for The Best FIFA Men’s Coach award, after leading Barcelona to their first La Liga title since 2019.

The 43-year-old finds himself running against former mentor Pep Guardiola, along with Luciano Spalletti, Simone Inzaghi, and Ange Postecoglou.

The qualification period for the Best FIFA Football Awards 2023 runs from 19 December 2022 to 20 August 2023

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