The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) unveiled on Friday the list of the 11 players nominated for the FIFA World Player of the Year 2024, which includes Moroccan internationals Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi and Soufiane Rahimi. Bounou secured the domestic league title (2023/2024) with Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia after an exceptional season, while Hakimi clinched the French league with Paris Saint-Germain, earning a spot in the league's ideal squad. Rahimi, on the other hand, had a stellar season with the UAE's Al Ain, winning the Asian Champions League. He was named the competition's best player and topped the scoring chart with 13 goals. Hakimi and Rahimi also contributed to Morocco's bronze medal win at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Other African players featured in the FIFA Best XI include Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman, and South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. The FIFA Best XI Award celebrates the top players worldwide in their respective positions, with nominations based on performances from August 21, 2023, to August 10, 2024.
