The Moroccans, simply "The Best…!"

Thanks to Morocco's exceptional World Cup, Achraf Hakimi, Yassine Bounou and Walid Regragui are among the nominees for The Best award, but do they have a chance of making the final shortlist? Achraf Hakimi is the least likely to get there, given this incredible list

• Julián Álvarez (Argentina / River Plate / Manchester City FC)
• Jude Bellingham (England / BV Borussia 09 Dortmund)
• Karim Benzema (France / Real Madrid CF)
• Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium / Manchester City FC)
• Erling Haaland (Norway / BV Borussia 09 Dortmund / Manchester City FC)
• Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain)
• Robert Lewandowski (Poland / FC Bayern München / FC Barcelona)
• Sadio Mané (Senegal / Liverpool FC / FC Bayern München)
• Kylian Mbappé (France / Paris Saint-Germain)
• Lionel Messi (Argentina / Paris Saint-Germain)
• Luka Modrić (Croatia / Real Madrid CF)
• Neymar (Brazil / Paris Saint-Germain)
• Mohamed Salah (Egypt / Liverpool FC)
• Vinícius Junior (Brazil / Real Madrid CF)

Looking at his rivals, it is clear that big names who performed this year will be on that list and that the Paris Saint-Germain player has no chance of making it. By our predictions, the 3 finalists should most likely be Kylian Mbappé, runner-up at the last World Cup and the author of a very interesting season statistically. Karim Benzema, holder of the latest Ballon d'Or, should join his former best friend. And finally, unsurprisingly, Lionel Messi, the best player at the last World Cup, should win the award comfortably.

In the best goalkeeper category, despite a huge list, the former Wydad Casablanca goalkeeper has every chance of making the final three

• Álisson Becker (Brazil / Liverpool FC)
• Yassine Bounou (Morocco / Sevilla FC)
• Thibaut Courtois (Belgium / Real Madrid CF)
• Ederson (Brazil / Manchester City FC)
• Emiliano Martínez (Argentina / Aston Villa FC)

Regragui more than an outsider

He should join Thibault Courtois, a Champions League winner, and above all the eccentric Emiliano Martinez, who should win the award after being named best goalkeeper at the World Cup. Finally, Walid Regragui, the best African coach at the moment (I wrote a column for SNA last May titled "Regragui, Africa's best coach"), has a chance of making the final 3.

• Carlo Ancelotti (Italy / Real Madrid CF)
• Didier Deschamps (France / French National Team)
• Pep Guardiola (Spain / Manchester City FC)
• Walid Regragui (Morocco / Wydad AC / Moroccan National Team)
• Lionel Scaloni (Argentina / Argentinian National Team)

Apart from Lionel Scaloni, the world champion and overwhelming favourite, and Carlo Ancelloti, a European Champions League winner, Walid Regragui has a chance of being among the finalists because his main rival is Didier Deschamps. But it must not be forgotten that the Moroccan coach also won the African Champions League, on top of finishing 4th at the World Cup. And that is where he will make the difference against Noel le Graet's best friend.

The forgotten Moroccan fans

Finally, the big surprise among the nominees concerns the fans category, where the Japanese, the Saudis and the Argentines are competing for the award. What about Morocco? How can anyone overlook the Moroccan fans, both at club level and above all at the World Cup? In Qatar they cleaned up after every match like the Japanese, and they pushed their team on and turned up in huge numbers to back their country like the Argentines, didn't they?

How can they not be nominated? Especially as I was at the Saudi Arabia v Argentina match, and the Saudis who are nominated showed nothing extraordinary. The Moroccan fans played the role of 12th man and brought a breath of fresh air to Qatar that everyone applauded.

To conclude, we have a strong chance of seeing Moroccans among the finalists for "The Best" award. It comes as no surprise, because the Moroccans were the best this year by far…!

Nasrédine NASRI

#TheBest Awards is approaching 👀🏆

Who will get your votes? 🗳️

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) January 12, 2023