Declan Rice Secures 12th Place with Eight Votes in Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year

Arsenal’s midfielder, Declan Rice, secured the 12th position at the prestigious Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year awards ceremony, with Lionel Messi winning the top spot. Rice’s recognition is notable due to his recent move to Arsenal in July 2023.

What distinguishes Rice’s acknowledgment is his impressive performance at West Ham United during the 2022-2023 season, contributing significantly to winning the Europa Conference League trophy. This achievement resonated with voters, despite his limited time at Arsenal during the eligibility period.

The voting process involved fans, journalists, national team captains, and coaches from 211 national associations worldwide. The ‘captains’ points’ model assigned five points for a first-place vote, three for second, and one for third.

An interesting aspect of Rice’s acknowledgment is the voting dynamics. Montserrat’s national team captain, Lyle Taylor, gave him a first-place vote, showing a preference for Messi and Erling Haaland in the second and third spots. Taylor’s connection to Greenwich, near West Ham’s London Stadium, raises speculation about potential bias due to West Ham’s success.

The remaining seven votes for Rice came from various parts of the world, with support from managers and journalists. Despite individual accolades, Rice is focused on contributing to Arsenal’s pursuit of the Premier League title and other major trophies in the future. If successful, he may feature in future editions of The Best FIFA Awards, adding to the intriguing journey of this talented midfielder that captivates football enthusiasts globally.