Moroccan football players Soufiane Rahimi, Achraf Hakimi, and Yassine Bounou have been nominated for the prestigious FIFA Best XI of the Year at the 2024 The Best FIFA Football Awards.
FIFA released the nominees on Thursday night, with Bounou contending for Best Goalkeeper, Hakimi for Best Defender, and Rahimi for Best Forward.
The trio, key members of Morocco’s national team, are being recognized for their exceptional performances on the global stage.
Fans can now vote on FIFA.com to help shape the final selection for this year’s World XI. FIFA’s revamped voting system includes contributions from football fans, team captains, coaches, and media representatives.
This year, FIFA has made changes to its voting system for the Men’s and Women’s World XI categories. Fans now hold significant influence, joining an expert panel to select their ideal lineups. Voters choose from a list of 77 players for each gender, which includes 11 goalkeepers, 22 defenders, 22 midfielders, and 22 forwards.
Other awards, such as the FIFA Supporters’ Prize, rely solely on fan input, while the Fair Play Award is decided by a panel of experts. Iconic honors such as the FIFA Marta and Puskás Awards divide voting evenly between fans and a group of FIFA Legends.