By Victor Kanayo
World football governing body, FIFA, has scheduled Monday, February 27, 2023 for the 2022 FIFA Best Awards ceremony in Paris, the France capital.
Three football greats – Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema are in the final shortlist.
While Messi steered his Argentina team to win 2022 World Cup, Mbappe and Benzema of France finished as runners-up.
Benzema went ahead to win FIFA Club World Cup with Real Madrid, after grabbing another UEFA Champions League.
Meanwhile, FIFA has invited a top Nigerian government official – the Deputy Governor of Edo State, South-South Nigeria, Philip Shuaibu to the prestigious event.
The special invitation, according to the global football body was in recognition of his invaluable contribution to football development in Nigeria
FIFA in a mail sent to Shaibu stated, ”It is our pleasure to invite you to the annual celebration of football’s greatest stars, the Best FIFA Football Awards, which will take place at Salle Pleyel in Paris on 27 February 2023. On this occasion, we honour the best players, coaches and fans who have enthralled us over the last season with their breathtaking skills and moments of high drama.
“This year’s ceremony will take on a special significance as it will be held in the wake of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which gave us so many memories to cherish and proved that football is a truly global sport.
“The greatest names in football will be attending this show, which will crown the very best in yet another tremendous season. We look forward to welcoming you to Paris for the 2022 edition of The Best FIFA Football Awards.”
The FIFA awards is an event which FIFA uses to celebrate the very best coaches, players, fans and its corporate sponsors.