The Best FIFA Men’s Player Football Awards: All you need to know as Ronaldo, Messi and van Dijk battle for top award

The ten-man shortlist for The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2019 award – based on their respective achievements during the period from 16 July 2018 to 19 July 2019 inclusive – was compiled by a panel of experts in men’s football.

Voting to decide the winner took place from 31 July to 19 August 2019 and was equally weighted between fans, journalists, national team coaches and captains.

The three finalists for each award were revealed in an event at the San Siro stadium in Milan on Monday 2 September, with all award winners revealed at The Best FIFA Football Awards show in Milan on 23 September.

THE FINALISTS

Cristiano Ronaldo

Helped Juventus win Serie A and named league's Most Valuable Player

Finished as club's top goalscorer in all competitions & won Italian Super Cup

Helped Portugal win UEFA Nations League as top goalscorer in the Nations League Finals

Lionel Messi

Won La Liga, helped side to UEFA Champions League semi-final and Copa del Rey final

Claimed European Golden Shoe as continent’s top goalscorer, was La Liga’s top assist-maker

Helped Argentina to bronze at 2019 Copa America

Virgil van Dijk

Won UEFA Champions League

Named PFA Players' Player and Premier League Player of the Year

Helped Netherlands to UEFA Nations League final

THE OTHER CANDIDATES

Frenkie de Jong

Won domestic league and cup double

Reached semi-finals of UEFA Champions League

Named Eredivisie Player of the Season

Matthijs de Ligt

Won domestic league and cup double

Reached semi-finals of UEFA Champions League

Named in Eredivisie and UEFA Champions League squads of the season

Harry Kane

Helped Tottenham Hotspur reach their first UEFA Champions League final

Scored 17 Premier League goals in 28 appearances for Spurs

UEFA Nations League semi-finalist with England

Eden Hazard

Won UEFA Europa League with Chelsea

Club’s top goalscorer in all competitions

Named PFA Fans’ Player of the Year

Sadio Mane

Won UEFA Champions League

Joint top-scorer in Premier League

Helped Senegal to CAF Africa Cup of Nations final

Kylian Mbappe

Helped side win Ligue 1 and Trophee des Champions

Club’s top goalscorer in all competitions in 2018/19

Ligue 1 top goalscorer, named league’s Player of the Year

Mohamed Salah

Won UEFA Champions League

Club’s top goalscorer in all competitions in 2018/19

Joint top-scorer in Premier League

Culled from FIFA.com