Seven players who starred in the 2022/23 Premier League season have been nominated for The Best FIFA Men's Player 2023.
With the shortlist revealed, and the voting having opened on Thursday, six current Premier League stars and one former player make up more than half of the 12 nominees.
Six of the seven nominees are Manchester City players from last season: Julian Alvarez, Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Erling Haaland, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan, who has since moved to Barcelona.
Gundogan was instrumental to Man City's successful season, playing a vital role in the club's first ever Treble of Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.
Declan Rice completes the list, with the Arsenal midfielder recognised for his impact at West Ham United, whom he led to European glory, lifting the Europa Conference League trophy.
The other five names on the shortlist are Marcelo Brozovic, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Victor Osimhen.
The shortlist for The Best Award comes out a week after that for the Ballon d'Or, where 10 of the same names were included.
HERE ARE ALL THE BALLON D'OR NOMINEES! 🌕✨#ballondor pic.twitter.com/hg1ZByzhDV
— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@ballondor) September 6, 2023
Pep Guardiola has been rewarded for overseeing Man City's Treble triumph with a nomination for The Best FIFA Men's Coach award.
Tottenham Hotspur's new head coach Ange Postecoglou is also on the shortlist for that prize, having won the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup with Celtic last season.
The Ballon d'Or is decided by players' performances over the course of a calendar year and is judged by a panel of journalists, while The Best is decided on players' seasons and is traditionally awarded in the autumn.
The Best is also voted for by what FIFA describe as an "international jury" of fans, journalists, coaches and captains of national teams.
