The next iteration of FIFA's The Best awards is nearing, and here's what you need to know about the ceremony & more:
FIFA's The Best awards recognise the greatest individual talents across football, with the Best Men's Player and Best Women's Players set to be honoured.
Previous winners of the Best awards have included Robert Lewandowski and Lucy Bronze, and attention will turn to which players will be celebrated this year.
Goal has what you need to know about the Best awards ceremony, when it will take place, which players are nominated and more.
When will The Best 2021 award ceremony take place?
The next iteration of the ceremony will be a little late, as it is usually held in October, September and December.
Last year, the awards ceremony took place on Thursday December 17, 2020, with proceedings getting started at 6pm BST (1pm ET). It was a virtual event due to public health restrictions in place across the world.
How to watch The Best 2021 awards?
FIFA will stream The Best awards 2021 live on its various media channels, including YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, as well as its official website.
The Best Men's Player of the Year 2021 nominees
Nominees for this year's ceremony were announced on Monday, November 22, with finalists confirmed on January 7, 2022. The finalists for the 2021 Best Men's Player award are: Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah.
The voting process began on Monday November 22 and ended on the night of Friday December 10, 2021.
Players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Jorginho, N'Golo Kante, Kevin De Bruyne, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Erling Haaland were also on the first shortlist.
The Best Women's Player of the Year 2021 nominees
Barcelona stars Alexia Putellas and Jennifer Hermoso are considered strong contenders after a stellar season with the Catalan side, while Chelsea's Sam Kerr completes the final three nominees.
Manchester City's Lucy Bronze was among the players on the first shortlist, as was Arsenal's Viviane Miedema.
The Best FIFA Men's Coach of the Year 2021 nominees
Roberto Mancini, Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel are the three finalists in the running for The Best FIFA Men's Coach award.
Mancini steered Italy to a European Championship crown, while Tuchel masterminded Chelsea's Champions League triumph and Guardiola delivered a Premier League and League Cup double with Manchester City.
Other coaches who were in the running before the shortlist was reduced to three included Antonio Conte, Hansi Flick, Lionel Scaloni and Diego Simeone.
The Best FIFA Women's Coach of the Year 2021 nominees
Emma Hayes is a favourite as Chelsea Women's manager, alongside Barcelona Women's Lluis Cortes.
Peter Gerhadsson and Beverly Priestman were included in the initial shortlist, but were cut from the final three.
The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper of the Year 2021 nominees
Chelsea's Edouard Mendy, Bayern Munich stalwart Manuel Neuer and Italy shotstopper Gianluigi Donnarummer make up the final three nominees.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and Leicester City legend Kasper Schmeichel were cut from the shortlist.
The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper of the Year 2021 nominees
Ann-Katrin Berger from Chelsea is in the running for the Women's Goalkeeper award alongside Stephanie Lynn Marie Labbe and Christiane Endler.
Hedvig Lindahl and Alyssa Naeher missed the final three cut.
FIFPro World 11 2021
At each The Best awards ceremony, the FIFPro World 11 is also announced, confirming the best 'dream team' of the season.
The award, which is voted for by professional footballers across the world, takes into account performances between October 8, 2020 and August 7, 2021.
Players from Chelsea and Manchester City have a strong claim for inclusion, as do individuals from the Italy and Argentina national teams following their respective continental successes.