FIFA has unveiled the&nbsp;2024 Best FIFA Men’s Coach&nbsp;shortlist, highlighting five of the most successful managers from club and international soccer. The award recognizes outstanding achievements between&nbsp;August 2023 and August 2024, with the winner chosen by national team captains, coaches, selected journalists, and global fan voting. The ceremony will take place in&nbsp;January 2025.



<h2>Contenders: Mix of domestic and international success</h2>



<ul><li>Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)</li></ul>



The reigning winner,&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/pep-guardiola">Pep Guardiola</a>, has been nominated once again after an extraordinary season with&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/manchester-city">Manchester City</a>. Under his leadership, City claimed their&nbsp;fourth consecutive Premier League title, becoming the first team in English top-flight history to achieve such a feat. Guardiola’s tactical brilliance continues to redefine modern soccer, and his consistency at the highest level makes him a strong contender for a repeat win.



<ul><li>Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)</li></ul>



<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/carlo-ancelotti/">Carlo Ancelotti</a>&nbsp;led&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/real-madrid/">Real Madrid</a>&nbsp;to another remarkable season, securing both the&nbsp;La Liga&nbsp;and&nbsp;Champions League&nbsp;titles. Known for his calm demeanor and strategic acumen, Ancelotti’s success with a squad brimming with talent—including multiple nominees for The Best FIFA Men’s Player—cements his reputation as one of the most decorated coaches in soccer history.



<ul><li>Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen)</li></ul>



Former Spanish international&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/xabi-alonso/">Xabi Alonso</a>&nbsp;earned his place on the shortlist by guiding&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/bayer-leverkusen/">Bayer Leverkusen</a>&nbsp;to a sensational&nbsp;Bundesliga title&nbsp;and an impressive&nbsp;51-match unbeaten run&nbsp;across all competitions. Alonso also claimed victory in the&nbsp;domestic cup, though his side fell short in the&nbsp;Europa League final. His meteoric rise as a coach has drawn widespread acclaim, with many seeing him as one of the brightest tactical minds in the game.



<ul><li>Luis de la Fuente (Spain)</li></ul>



<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/luis-de-la-fuente/">Luis de la Fuente</a>&nbsp;delivered&nbsp;Euro 2024 glory&nbsp;for&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/spain/">Spain</a>, marking a triumphant return to the top of European soccer. De la Fuente’s ability to blend youth and experience, and his tactical nous in navigating the tournament, earned him widespread praise. Spain’s success on the international stage under his leadership has made him a standout among his peers.



<ul><li>Lionel Scaloni (Argentina)</li></ul>



<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lionel-scaloni/">Lionel Scaloni</a>, the manager of&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/argentina/">Argentina</a>, added to his growing legacy by leading his nation to victory at the&nbsp;Copa America&nbsp;in&nbsp;July 2024. Having already guided Argentina to the&nbsp;2022 World Cup&nbsp;title, Scaloni’s continued success on the international stage showcases his ability to maintain excellence and adapt his strategies to evolving challenges. His nomination reflects Argentina’s dominance in South American soccer under his stewardship.



<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Masterminds. 👔🧠 Who will be <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheBest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheBest</a> FIFA Men&apos;s Coach 2024?— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/1862282303218885121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2024</a></blockquote></div> 



<h2>Previous winners and legacy</h2>



Of the five nominees, only&nbsp;Pep Guardiola&nbsp;and&nbsp;Lionel Scaloni&nbsp;have previously won the award, setting the stage for either a repeat victory or a new name being etched into the annals of coaching excellence.



The 2024 Best FIFA Men’s Coach Award offers a fascinating mix of domestic and international achievements. Guardiola’s Premier League dominance, Ancelotti’s European triumphs, Alonso’s unbeaten run, de la Fuente’s Euro 2024 success, and Scaloni’s Copa América victory create a compelling competition.

2024 FIFA Men's Coach: Lionel Messi's Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni and Kylian Mbappe's Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti make cut

2024 FIFA Men's Coach: Lionel Messi's Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni and Kylian Mbappe's Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti make cut - World Soccer Talk

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The announcement of the 11-player shortlist for&nbsp;The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2024&nbsp;award has sent shockwaves through the soccer community. Fans have taken to social media to express outrage and disbelief, particularly over the inclusion of&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lionel-messi/">Lionel Messi</a>, who has become a focal point for controversy. With the ceremony scheduled for&nbsp;January 2025, the list is stirring heated debates about merit, snubs, and whether Messi’s recent achievements warrant a place among the world’s elite.



On&nbsp;Thursday night, FIFA revealed the names of 11 nominees selected based on their performances from&nbsp;August 21, 2023, to August 10, 2024. Among the high-profile players are stars like&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/erling-haaland/">Erling Haaland</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/kylian-mbappe/">Kylian Mbappe</a>,&nbsp;Jude Bellingham,&nbsp;Toni Kroos,&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/vinicius-jr/">Vinicius</a>, and&nbsp;Rodri. However, some notable absentees—Mohamed Salah,&nbsp;Harry Kane, and&nbsp;Cole Palmer—left fans puzzled.



<h5>The complete list of nominees includes:</h5>



<ul><li>Dani Carvajal</li><li>Erling Haaland</li><li>Federico Valverde</li><li>Florian Wirtz</li><li>Jude Bellingham</li><li>Kylian Mbappe</li><li>Lamine Yamal</li><li>Lionel Messi</li><li>Rodri</li><li>Toni Kroos</li><li>Vinicius</li></ul>



Of the 11 players,&nbsp;10 were previously nominated for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, where they all placed inside the top 17. Messi’s inclusion stands out because, for the first time since&nbsp;2005, he was not a Ballon d’Or finalist—a fact fans have seized upon to criticize his nomination.



<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheBest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheBest</a> FIFA Men&apos;s Player 2024 nominees. Let the voting begin… 🗳️— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/1862276972405301568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2024</a></blockquote></div> 



<h2>Messi’s inclusion: Merit or nostalgia?</h2>



Messi’s selection has sparked intense backlash. Fans took to social media platform&nbsp;X (formerly Twitter)&nbsp;to express their disbelief.



“What exactly did Messi do to make this list?”&nbsp;one fan asked, while another exclaimed,&nbsp;“What is Messi doing there?”&nbsp;Others questioned the process itself:&nbsp;“This can’t be possible. Does the World Cup count every year?”.&nbsp;The absence of Salah drew ire as well, with one user lamenting,&nbsp;“The disrespect to Salah is continuing.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20241129_WST_541924_2024-FIFA-Mens-Player-shortlist-sparks-controversy-Why-are-fans-puzzled-by-Lionel-Messis-inclusion-2-1200x675_3a6aa52e.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="salah liverpool" class="wp-image-541930" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/2024-FIFA-Mens-Player-shortlist-sparks-controversy-Why-are-fans-puzzled-by-Lionel-Messis-inclusion-2-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/2024-FIFA-Mens-Player-shortlist-sparks-controversy-Why-are-fans-puzzled-by-Lionel-Messis-inclusion-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/2024-FIFA-Mens-Player-shortlist-sparks-controversy-Why-are-fans-puzzled-by-Lionel-Messis-inclusion-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/2024-FIFA-Mens-Player-shortlist-sparks-controversy-Why-are-fans-puzzled-by-Lionel-Messis-inclusion-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/2024-FIFA-Mens-Player-shortlist-sparks-controversy-Why-are-fans-puzzled-by-Lionel-Messis-inclusion-2-740x416.jpg 740w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/2024-FIFA-Mens-Player-shortlist-sparks-controversy-Why-are-fans-puzzled-by-Lionel-Messis-inclusion-2-490x275.jpg 490w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/2024-FIFA-Mens-Player-shortlist-sparks-controversy-Why-are-fans-puzzled-by-Lionel-Messis-inclusion-2-250x140.jpg 250w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/2024-FIFA-Mens-Player-shortlist-sparks-controversy-Why-are-fans-puzzled-by-Lionel-Messis-inclusion-2.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



Despite the skepticism, the Argentine’s year wasn’t devoid of accomplishments. His move to&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/inter-miami/">Inter Miami</a>&nbsp;was a high-profile event in 2023, where he played in 14 matches, scoring 10 goals in the&nbsp;Leagues Cup, which Miami won—their first-ever piece of silverware. However, his impact in&nbsp;MLS&nbsp;was more modest.



In&nbsp;2024, the 37-year-old’s performance improved. He featured in&nbsp;19 MLS games, netting&nbsp;20 goals&nbsp;and contributing&nbsp;10 assists. Despite helping Miami achieve a record&nbsp;74 points&nbsp;and securing the&nbsp;Supporters’ Shield, his team faltered in the playoffs, exiting in the first round against&nbsp;Atlanta United. His former coach,&nbsp;Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, was subsequently replaced by&nbsp;Javier Mascherano, one of Messi’s former teammates.



Messi’s standout moment came at the&nbsp;Copa America, where he captained&nbsp;Argentina&nbsp;to victory in&nbsp;July 2024. He started five of Argentina’s six matches and played a crucial role throughout the tournament. The emotional peak came in the final against&nbsp;Colombia, where Messi, visibly moved after being substituted due to an injury, witnessed&nbsp;Lautaro Martínez&nbsp;score the extra-time winner to secure a&nbsp;1-0 victory.



<h2>Notable omissions and fierce competition</h2>



Messi isn’t the only talking point. Fans were equally shocked by the omission of&nbsp;Mohamed Salah&nbsp;from the&nbsp;22-man shortlist&nbsp;for FIFA’s Men’s 11. Meanwhile,&nbsp;Manchester City’s Rodri&nbsp;and&nbsp;Erling Haaland&nbsp;are the only nominees from the&nbsp;Premier League, both key players in City’s historic fourth consecutive league title. Haaland’s record-breaking goal tally and Rodri’s dominance in midfield make them frontrunners.



<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">2024… 🔮✍️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheBest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheBest</a>— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/1862428791139676408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2024</a></blockquote></div> 



Jude Bellingham, who has shone since his move to&nbsp;Real Madrid, is also among the top contenders, aiming to become the first Englishman to win the award. At just 21, Bellingham already secured third place in the Ballon d’Or and hopes to break new ground with a FIFA win.



The award will be decided by an equal split of votes from&nbsp;fans,&nbsp;national team captains,&nbsp;coaches, and&nbsp;media representatives. Should Messi clinch the award, it would mark his&nbsp;eighth&nbsp;victory, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest ever. But with the fierce competition from players like&nbsp;Haaland,&nbsp;Bellingham, and&nbsp;Rodri, his chances remain uncertain.

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