The Best FIFA Awards 2024: A Deep Dive into the Best Attacker Nominees

By: Cyryl | Date: November 29, 2024

1. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami has been a significant chapter in his storied career. As of November 2024, Messi has continued to showcase his extraordinary talent, contributing both goals and assists in Major League Soccer (MLS) while also leading his team in various cup competitions. His vision, dribbling ability, and knack for scoring from almost any position make him a constant threat on the pitch. To further solidify his candidacy for the Best Attacker award, Messi could focus on maintaining his fitness levels throughout the season. While he remains a crucial player for Miami, managing his workload will be essential as he balances league play with international commitments. Additionally, improving his set-piece accuracy could provide more scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. 2. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) Erling Haaland has taken the Premier League by storm since joining Manchester City, becoming one of the most feared strikers in world football. As of November 2024, he leads the league in goals scored and has been instrumental in City's pursuit of domestic and European honors. His speed, strength, and clinical finishing make him a nightmare for defenders. To further enhance his chances for recognition at The Best FIFA Awards, Haaland could work on diversifying his attacking play. While he is exceptional at finishing chances created for him, developing his ability to create opportunities for himself could elevate his game even further. Additionally, improving his link-up play with teammates would make him an even more complete forward. 3. Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain) Kylian Mbappé remains one of the most electrifying attackers in football today. As of November 2024, he has been a key figure for Paris Saint-Germain, consistently finding the back of the net while also contributing assists. His incredible pace and dribbling skills allow him to break down defenses and create goal-scoring opportunities for himself and others. To strengthen his candidacy for the Best Attacker award, Mbappé could focus on improving his decision-making in the final third. While he is adept at creating chances, refining his ability to pick the right moment to shoot versus passing could enhance his overall effectiveness. Additionally, working on his finishing under pressure would help him convert more critical chances in high-stakes matches. 4. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) Harry Kane's move to Bayern Munich has seen him continue to excel as one of the top strikers in Europe. As of November 2024, he has been a vital part of Bayern's attack, leading the Bundesliga in goals scored while also providing assists for his teammates. Kane's technical ability and football intelligence make him a versatile attacker capable of influencing matches in various ways. To improve his chances for recognition at The Best FIFA Awards, Kane could work on enhancing his pace off the ball. While he is an exceptional finisher and playmaker, adding more speed to his game would allow him to exploit defensive gaps more effectively. Additionally, improving his aerial ability could make him an even greater threat during set-pieces. 5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) Mohamed Salah has been a key figure for Liverpool since joining the club, consistently ranking among the top scorers in the Premier League. As of November 2024, Salah's performances have been instrumental in keeping Liverpool competitive in both domestic and European competitions. His dribbling ability and quick acceleration make him a constant threat on the right flank. To further enhance his candidacy for the Best Attacker award, Salah could focus on improving his finishing with his weaker foot. While he is known for his left-footed strikes, becoming more proficient with his right foot would make him a more unpredictable attacker. Additionally, refining his decision-making when to take on defenders versus passing could elevate his overall contributions. ▎6. Neymar Jr. (Al Hilal) Neymar Jr.'s move to Al Hilal has brought new challenges and opportunities for the Brazilian superstar. As of November 2024, he has been performing well in Saudi Arabia, showcasing his flair and creativity while contributing goals and assists for his team. Neymar's dribbling skills and vision remain among the best in the world. To enhance his chances for recognition at The Best FIFA Awards, Neymar could work on maintaining consistency throughout matches. At times, he can be prone to injuries or lapses in form that affect his overall impact. Additionally, focusing on improving his defensive contributions could help balance his game and provide more support to his teammates. ▎7. Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad) Karim Benzema's transition to Al Ittihad has marked a new chapter in his illustrious career after a successful stint at Real Madrid. As of November 2024, Benzema continues to demonstrate his exceptional goal-scoring ability while adapting to a new league. His experience and intelligence on the field make him a crucial player for Al Ittihad. To further solidify his candidacy for the Best Attacker award, Benzema could focus on enhancing his physical fitness as he adapts to a different style of play in Saudi Arabia. Maintaining peak condition will be essential as he competes against younger defenders. Additionally, working on increasing his involvement in build-up play could provide more opportunities for both himself and his teammates. ▎8. Romelu Lukaku (AS Roma) Romelu Lukaku has found a new lease on life at AS Roma after previous challenges in his career. As of November 2024, he has been a vital part of Roma's attack, scoring crucial goals while also contributing assists. His physical presence and ability to hold up play make him an essential asset for the team. To enhance his chances for recognition at The Best FIFA Awards, Lukaku could focus on improving his finishing consistency from various positions on the field. While he is a powerful striker, refining his technique could lead to more goals in tight situations. Additionally, working on his movement off the ball could help create more space for himself and teammates. ▎9. Victor Osimhen (Napoli) Victor Osimhen has emerged as one of Europe’s top strikers during his time at Napoli. As of November 2024, he continues to impress with his goal-scoring ability and physical attributes that allow him to dominate defenders in Serie A. His pace and aerial prowess make him a constant threat in front of goal. To further enhance his candidacy for the Best Attacker award, Osimhen could work on improving his link-up play with midfielders and wingers. While he is an excellent finisher, developing stronger connections with teammates could lead to even more scoring opportunities. Additionally, focusing on improving decision-making when under pressure would help him convert critical chances. ▎10. Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur) Son Heung-min remains one of the most dynamic attackers in football today. As of November 2024, he has been a key player for Tottenham Hotspur, contributing significantly to their attacking play with both goals and assists. His speed and dribbling ability allow him to create chances from various positions on the field. To further improve his chances for recognition at The Best FIFA Awards, Son could focus on enhancing his finishing from distance. While he is already known for scoring spectacular goals, becoming more consistent from long-range shots could add another dimension to his game. Additionally, refining his defensive contributions when out of possession could help balance Tottenham’s attacking style. ▎Conclusion The nominees for The Best FIFA Awards 2024 Best Attacker category represent some of the most talented players in world football today. Each nominee brings unique strengths and skills to their teams while having areas for improvement that could elevate their performances even further. As we await the announcement of the winner, it will be exciting to see how these players continue to shape their legacies in football over the coming months.