Jude Bellingham nominated for The Best FIFA Men's Player award alongside Rodri and Haaland

In late November 2024, FIFA announced the nominees for The Best FIFA Men's Player award for that year. Jude Bellingham, a key player for Real Madrid, is among the 11 nominees that also include prominent Premier League stars Rodri and Erling Haaland. The award recognizes players for their achievements across the calendar year, differentiating itself from the Ballon d'Or, which is awarded by season. This year's nominees include a mix of talent that exemplifies the elite level of football play around the world. Lionel Messi, who has won the award in the past two years, is nominated once again, but his longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo was notably absent from the list. This exclusion raises eyebrows, given Ronaldo's long history of success at both national and club levels. Alongside the nominees are six players from Real Madrid, leading to speculation about their potential attendance at the award ceremony, especially after their boycott of the Ballon d'Or gala held in October 2024. This protest involved Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior, neither of whom appeared when the Ballon d'Or winner was announced, which indicated dissatisfaction with the award's recognition criteria. The awards, which include separate categories for goalkeepers and managers, highlight the competitive nature of football worldwide. Notably, several goalkeepers have also been recognized, although Alisson was missing from the nominations list, leading fans to express their surprise over this omission. The goalkeeping nominations feature notable figures like Ederson and Gianluigi Donnarumma, showcasing the depth of talent in goalkeeping at this elite level. The managerial nominations include successful coaches such as Pep Guardiola of Manchester City, which adds another dimension of prestige to the upcoming awards. Rodri, having won the prestigious Ballon d'Or only a few weeks prior, is another key figure in this nomination landscape. His victory marked a historic moment, as it was the first time a Premier League player had won that title since 2008. The ceremony's impact was felt keenly among other nominees, particularly as Real Madrid's squad expressed discontent with the awards process. As November unfolds, all eyes will be on the impending awards ceremony, where it will be determined whether Bellingham can secure a victory amid fierce competition from other established stars, especially against the backdrop of recent controversies surrounding player recognition.