Best FIFA Men's Player 2021 nominees: Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool stars make shortlist

Jorginho of Italy celebrates with The Henri Delaunay Trophy following his team's victory in the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Final between Italy and England at Wembley Stadium. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

The nominees for the Best FIFA Men’s Player of 2021 were released yesterday and five Premier League stars have been included.

Previous winners have included Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski, with the Manchester United forward taking the award home twice in the last five years.

It will come as no surprise to Liverpool fans that Mohamed Salah has been nominated, whose unbelievable form this season has earned him a place in the list despite the Reds not being at their best at the start of the year.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his second goal during the UEFA Champions League group F football match between Atalanta and Manchester United at the Azzurri d'Italia stadium. (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)

Ronaldo has once again made the cut but it is looking increasingly unlikely he will take the trophy home after failing to secure Juventus the 2020-21 league title, as well as losing form with the Red Devils.

Chelsea have two players that have been nominated after their superb Champions League victory last season, as well as an impressive start to the current campaign that has left them top of the league.

N'Golo Kante is one, while Jorginho has also been nominated after his summer was made even better with the Euro 2020 final win over England.

Finally, Kevin De Bruyne is in the running for Manchester City after helping Pep Guardiola's side win their fifth Premier League title last season.

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring their side's third goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

The five stars will be up against Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), as well as PSG’s attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony will take place in the Swiss City of Zurich in January.

The awards are decided by a combination of national coaches, team captains, a select group of media and fans - with a public vote taking place on FIFA’s website until December 10.