The excitement is building for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, the most prestigious award in football, which is set to be announced on October 30. The Ballon d’Or is a prestigious award given by France Football that honors the best player of the season.
This year, the competition is tough because it is a World Cup year. Unlike last year’s clear winner, Karim Benzema, it is uncertain who will win this trophy.
Stay tuned as we unveil the top five contenders for the 2023 Ballon d’Or. Football fans are eager to find out who will be the standout player of this season.
#5. Rodri (Manchester City/Spain):
Rodri, the midfield maestro of Manchester City, has firmly established himself as the top holding midfielder globally. His exceptional skills in breaking up plays and orchestrating from deep highlight his game-reading abilities and tactical intelligence.
During City’s historic treble-winning season, Rodri stood out as one of their most reliable players. He played a crucial role in the Champions League final, scoring the winning goal against Inter Milan. Additionally, he triumphed in the UEFA Nations League with Spain this summer, further solidifying his status as a key player.
#4 Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain/France):
In the 2022-23 season, Kylian Mbappe was at his best scoring goals and creating chances for PSG. He scored 41 goals and made 10 assists, which helped PSG win the Ligue 1 title.
Despite his impressive performance, his trophy collection does not fully reflect his success. This could potentially impact his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or. Mbappe won the Golden Boot at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, scoring a hat-trick in the final against France.
#3. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City/Belgium):
In a heartbreaking turn of events, the Belgian player had to leave the UEFA Champions League (UCL) final due to injury, marking the second time he has faced such misfortune in the tournament’s final match.
Nevertheless, he played a crucial role in City’s season, alongside Haaland. Despite a few off games, the 31-year-old remained a top playmaker in Europe, contributing 32 assists across all competitions.
#2. Erling Haaland (Manchester City/Norway):
After joining Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, Erling Haaland had a phenomenal first year. He also set a new record for the most goals scored in a Premier League season. He scored 36 goals in the Premier League, winning the Golden Boot and the European Golden Shoe.
His tally of 52 goals and nine assists in 53 matches played a pivotal role in Manchester City’s triumphant season, during which they achieved the treble. Haaland’s impact was undeniable, making him a key player for the team and ranking him 2nd on our Ballon d’Or Power Ranking List.
#1 Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain/Inter Miami/Argentina):
In the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Messi was exceptional he guided Argentina to victory and winning the Golden Ball with seven goals and three assists in Qatar.
For PSG, he scored 21 goals and made 20 assists in 41 matches, playing a key role in their Ligue 1 title and Trophee des Champions. In the overall 2022-23 season, he scored and made 26 assists.
Full list of Ballon d’Or 2023 nominees
- Julian Alvarez
- Nicolo Barella
- Jude Bellingham
- Karim Benzema
- Yassine Bounou
- Kevin De Bruyne
- Ruben Dias
- Antoine Griezmann
- Ilkay Gundogan
- Josko Gvardiolya
- Erling Haaland
- Harry Kane
- Randal Kolo Muani
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
- Robert Lewandowski
- Emiliano Martinez
- Lautaro Martinez
- Kylian Mbappe
- Lionel Messi
- Kim Min-Jae
- Luka Modric
- Jamal Musiala
- Martin Odegaard
- Andre Onana
- Mohamed Salah
- Bukayo Saka
- Bernardo Silva
- Vinicius Junior
- Rodri
- Victor Osimhen
HERE ARE ALL THE BALLON D'OR NOMINEES! 🌕✨#ballondor pic.twitter.com/hg1ZByzhDV
— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@ballondor) September 6, 2023
