Ballon d’Or 2023: Football’s prestigious award, Ballon d’Or, is back with new nominations. Karim Benzema was the last winner of this trophy. Since the last edition, we have seen some outstanding performances in both men’s and women’s competitions. FIFA organised two FIFA World Cups where Argentina and Spain won in Men’s and Women’s respectively. Man City completed a treble this year. Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland both are the favourites who made into the nominations.
The Ballon d’Or 2023 ceremony will be organised at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30. The nominations have been announced today, September 06. The ceremony will feature the presentation of the Kopa Trophy (for the best-performing player under the age of 21) and the Yashin Trophy (for the best goalkeeper).
Ballon d’Or 2023 nominations
Men’s Ballon d’Or has the highest 30 nominations while, the Women’s Ballon d’Or has 20 nominations. The Yachine Trophy and Kepa Trophy have 10 nominations each. Here are the nominations in all categories:
Kepa Trophy – Jude Bellingham; Gavi; Jamal Musiala; Eduardo Camavinga; Pedri: Xavi Simons; Alejandro Balde; Antonio Silva; Rasmus Hojlund; and Elye Wahi
Yachine Trophy – Yassine Bounou; Thibaut Courtois; Mike Maignan; Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Ederson, Emi Martinez and Andre Onana, Aaron Ramsdale, Dominik Livakovic and Brice Samba
Women’s Ballon d’Or – Linda Caicedo, Kadidiatou Diani, Fridolina Rolfo, Georgia Stanway, Olga Carmona, Rachel Daly, Alba Redondo, Salma Paralluelo, Sophia Smith, Hayley Raso and Amanda Ilestedt, Daphne van Domselaar, Lena Oberdorf, Hinata Miyazawa, Millie Bright, Patricia Guijarro, Sam Kerr, Ewa Pajor, Debinha, Guro Reiten, Katie McCabe, Jill Roord, Yui Hasegawa, Alexandra Popp, Aitana Bonmati, Mary Earps, Khadija Shaw, Mapi León, Asisat Oshoala and Wendie Renard
Men’s Ballon d’Or – Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Vinicius Junior, Rodri, Joško Gvardiol, André Onana, Karim Benzema, Mohamed Salah, Jamal Musiala, Kevin de Bruyne, Bukayo Saka, Bernardo Silva, Jude Bellingham, Randal Kolo Muani, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Martin Odegaard, Ruben Dias, Emilano Martinez, Ilkay Gundogan, Julian Alvarez, Yassine Bounou, Nicolo Barella, Antoine Griezmann, Lautaro Martinez, Robert Lewandowski, Kim Min-Jae, Luka Modrić, Kylian Mbappé, Victor Osimhen and Harry Kane.
Who’s favourite to win Men’s Ballon d’Or 2023?
Men’s Ballon d’Or have 30 nominations but the fight to win the trophy is between two players, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland. Apart from these two, Vinicius Junior, Kevin De Bruyne, Kylian Mbappe and Rodri are also competing who can finish in the top five.
Lionel Messi is currently the hot favourite to win the award for the record 8th time. His 7 Ballon d’Or is already the highest by any player. He is favourties to win this year due to his inspiring journey of FIFA World Cup triumph. He completed football in 2002 when he lifted the FIFA trophy in Qatar. Messi scored seven goals and won the Golden Ball award. His two goals in the final played a big role.
Meanwhile, Erling Haaland was magical in his debut season with Man City. He broke all the records in the Premier League and also helped his club to complete the treble this year. The Norway international netted 52 goals across all competitions. He was the leading goal-scorer in the Premier League and Champions League.
Who’s favourite to win Women’s Ballon d’Or 2023?
Spain’s Bonmati is hot favourites to win the Women’s Ballon d’Or this year. Alexia Putellas won it in the last two years but she was injured last season. Bonmati won the Golden Ball and helped her national team win their maiden World Cup title in Australia and New Zealand.
The second favourite is Sam Kerr who was again in the top form. She scored 29 goals for Chelsea last season and helped her club to complete a domestic double. She was also part of the Australian side that made it into the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup. Georgia Stanway is also the contender who was the star in England’s run to the World Cup final and winning the title with Bayern Munich.
Ballon d’Or 2023 awards will be given next month in Paris on October 30. Let’s see who’s winning it this time! It could be Messi at the 8th time or Haaland at the youngest age. It would be exciting to see.
