To reach the top in any profession requires unerring dedication and a self-imposed desire to be the best. To become ‘The Best’ individual in a team sport is an altogether different challenge.

Lionel Messi was named The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2019 in Milan, with Barcelona's Argentinian icon following in the footsteps of Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo by picking up this illustrious prize. Superstars such as Zinedine Zidane, Kaka, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho have also been voted the world’s best footballer in recent history.

Who will follow in the footsteps of these legends of the game? An 11-man shortlist for The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2020 award will be compiled by a panel of experts, representing various FIFA and external football stakeholders, and revealed on 26 November.

This year's winner, determined on the basis of sporting performance and general conduct on and off the pitch in the period between 20 July 2019 to 7 October 2020, will be announced at The Best FIFA Football Awards show in Zurich on Thursday 17 December.