Its been two years since FIFA and French Football Magazine split, and for the third successive time Cristiano Ronaldo will be aiming to win the coveted Fifa the best award, having scoped the previous two.
With the 2018 Fifa World Cup coming to the picture when the votes are cast, there is sure to be some competition in this year's award.
Cristiano Ronaldo beat his eternal rival Lionel Messi and Neymar to the award the last time out, and is primed to be stand out as the favourite after another astounding season in which he led Madrid to their 13th Champions league triumph.
In this article, Ibomconnect ranks this year's nominees, putting in mind their overall performances and achievements in the year under review.
1. Lionel Messi (FC BARCELONA AND ARGENTINA)
| Messi led Barca to a domestic double last season
Except for Argentina's disastrous Fifa World Cup outing, Messi has every reason to be considered the best player on this planet after yet another outstanding season at club level with Barcelona, in which he led the Catalan giants to another domestic double.
Although continental success plays a decisive role in who emerges the best player of the year, the diminutive and mercurial Argentine stands out individually, and as the name goes, this award should be given to the most outstanding player during the year in review.
The 31-year old scored 34 times and provided a further 12 as Barcelona won the league, and he played perhaps his finest football of the season in the Copa Dey Rey final as Barcelona roasted Sevilla for another domestic double.
He finished the season as the highest goal scorer in the top five leagues in Europe, winning a record fourth European Golden Boot in the process.
Except for the debacle of Russia, Messi looks set to win the coveted prize one more time, his first since 2015.
Rating : 9.2
2. CRISTIANO RONALDO(REAL MADRID/JUVENTUS AND PORTUGAL)
The now Juventus forward started last season on a bad note, but rediscovered himself in the most decisive period of the season as he fired Madrid to another European glory.
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He once again made headlines with a sublime individual performance against Spain in the World Cup, scoring a hat-trick and another goal against Morocco, even though Portugal did not progress beyond the second round.
Individually Ronaldo was toppled by Lionel Messi, but a European success should carry more weight in awards of this magnitude, and it will not be a surprise if the Portuguese wins it again in London.
Rating: 8.5
3. ANTONIO GRIEZMAN(ATLETICO MADRID AND FRANCE)
Like Ronaldo, Griezman started last season poorly with misfiring performances, but ended on a high note as Atletico Madrid won the Europa league crown.
The Frenchman followed up his club success with a blistering performances in Russia, scoring four goals as France went on to win the tournament.
If the World Cup was to be used as the yardstick for this award, then Griezman would probably have won it after 15 July.
Rating: 8.4
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