After being selected in a final list of 11 players alongside Frenchman Karim Benzema and Italian Georginio, Egyptian international Mohamed Salah rivals the English Liverpool Star for the "best" player title in the FIFA Awards

Also nominated for the award for the first time in 2017 are Argentina's Lionel Messi (French Paris Saint-Germain) and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), both permanent candidates, plus Brazil's Neymar and Frenchman Kylian Mbappe (Paris Sam Germain), as Polish Robert LevLevAndovski competes the German.

The final list was completed by German attacker Borussia Dortmund, Norwegian Erling Halland, Frenchman Ngolo Kante of Chelsea, and Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne.

Four players from Barcelona were shortlisted for the best players, Alexia Botelas, Jennifer Hermoso, Itana Bonmati and Caroline Graham Hansen. Chelsea, who lost to ladies' team Anan Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League final last season, have four female representatives: Sam Kerr, Ji Soo Yoon, Magdalena Ericsson, and Pernille Harder.

Lucy Bruins, the winner of last year's award, was nominated with fellow England Ellen White, along with Canadian Tokyo Olympics gold winner Christine Sinclair and Swedish Stina Blacksteinius.

For the best coach, Germany's Thomas Tawdin is the luckiest candidate after leading Chelsea to the Champions League title, facing Roberto Manchini, the architect of Italy's 2020 European Cup victory.

Other candidates included German Hanse Fleck, Spanish Pep Guardiola, Italian Anthony Conte, and Italian Diego Simeoni and Lionel Scaloni.

It is noted that national coaches and leaders, as well as supporters of the game and selected journalists, participate in the voting.

Voting begins from November 22 until December 10.

France Fútbol's Golden Ball Award will be awarded in 29 of the present.