FIFA delivers good news for Ronaldo.

On the evening of January 3rd, the World Professional Footballers' Association (FIFPro) announced the nominees for the 2023 Team of the Year.

Notably, the list of forwards includes Cristiano Ronaldo, alongside many other stars such as Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Harry Kane (Bayern), Erling Haaland (Man City) and Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad).

List of forwards nominated for the Team of the Year.

If included in this year's Team of the Year, Ronaldo would have the opportunity to equal Messi's record. Previously, CR7 was honored by FIFPro in the Team of the Year 15 consecutive times (2007 to 2021).

In 2022, CR7 clashed with coach Erik ten Hag, resulting in him not getting regular playing time. He only finished the year with 17 goals and was unable to be included in the best team of the year.

Meanwhile, Messi holds the record for most consecutive appearances in the FIFPro Team of the Year with 16 (from 2007 to 2022). Last year, Messi's performance was only 28 goals and 12 assists, a number far behind many of his peers. This decline in performance could lead to the Argentine superstar being absent from the 2023 Team of the Year.

Previously, FIFA recognized Ronaldo as the top scorer of 2023 with 54 goals. Meanwhile, UEFA ignored CR7's achievement. The governing body of European football considered Kylian Mbappe the top scorer with 52 goals in 53 matches, a better performance than Harry Kane with 52 goals in 57 matches. Erling Haaland ranked third with 50 goals in 60 matches.

In an interview after his final match of 2023 (against Al Taawon), Ronaldo expressed his happiness with his record as the world's top scorer. The superstar also declared his desire to maintain that number one position in 2024, at the age of 39.

Currently, Ronaldo is on New Year's vacation with his family. CR7 will return in early February to face Lionel Messi in the highly anticipated friendly match between Al Nassr and Inter Miami in Saudi Arabia.

List of nominees for the best team of 2023
- Goalkeepers: Ederson, Courtois, Martinez.

- Defenders: Dias, Van Dijk, Militao, Rudiger, Stones, Walker.

- Midfielders: Bellingham, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Modric, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Valverde.

- Forwards: Benzema, Haaland, Kane, Mbappe, Messi, Ronaldo, Vinicius.

Minh Tu

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