Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah has been omitted from the list of nominees for the 2023 Best Award, organized by FIFA, which recognizes the world’s top player for the year 2023.
On Thursday, the global football governing body unveiled its list of nominees across various categories for the year 2023, and the Liverpool winger failed to secure a spot among the final 12 candidates.
Real Madrid and Brazil winger, Vinicius Junior is another major absence from this year’s nominees.
The lone African representative on the list vying for this year’s title is Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.
Leading the race for this year’s award are France’s striker Kylian Mbappe, Norway’s scoring sensation Erling Haaland, and the veteran and record-winner, Lionel Messi who won the title in 2022.