Following the announcement of the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or by France Football, FIFA has also announced the 12-man shortlist for the 2022/23 World Footballer of the Year, with Mays, Aynin Chalant and Kilian McBarbee as the favourites, but Portugal's superstar Cron is not on the list, which means that the 38-year old veteran has already missed out on the two major individual prizes.
The list of 12 candidates for the World Footballer of the Year includes the last year's winner, Mays, and last year's World Cup top scorer, Kylian McBarbee. Three-time champions Manchester City are the big players, with strikers Ayn Rand, Zulian Ivaris, midfielder Chivun Dibny, Rody Kasjendi, Benedetto Szczeszewski, as well as Gendo Gonzalez, who has already switched to Barcelona, making it a half-dozen for the 'Blue Moon'.
It is worth mentioning that this year's voting criteria only takes into account the player's performance between December 19, 2022 and August 20, 2023, which means that even if he helps Argentina win the World Cup, he may not be able to get any "extra points", while his main rival, Ayn Rand, who helped Manchester City win the UEFA Europa League and the English Premier League at the end of last season, may have a greater advantage. On the other hand, his main rival Ayn Rand won the UEFA Europa League, Premier League and EFL Cup at the end of last season, so he may have a bigger advantage.
After losing out on the Ballon d'Or shortlist, Crom was also left out of the World Footballer of the Year shortlist. Instead, his Ainas teammate Posovic made the cut, which may have something to do with the fact that the Croatian international helped Inter Milan to reach the UEFA Europa League final last year.
World Footballer of the Year 12-man shortlist
club
Mace (International Maia Mi)
Kilian McBarbie (Paris Saint-Germain)
Aynin Chalant (Manchester City)
Zulian Ivaris (Manchester City)
Chiyondibuni (Manchester City)
Lodi Casciandi (Manchester City)
Bernardo Schwarz (Manchester City)
Gundogan (Barcelona)
Vidar Ossenhan (Napoli)
Kihuarasquilla (Napoli)
Deglan Rice (Arsenal)
Posovia (Ainas)
Five candidates for Best Men's Soccer Coach
coach
Gordiona (Manchester City)
Szymon Ntshaki (Inter Milan)
Prestige Road (Tottenham Hotspur)
Spalletti (Italian national team)
