Ballon d’Or 2023: When it comes to football, few honors are as coveted as the Ballon d’Or. This prestigious award recognizes the best and brightest stars in the footballing galaxy. This year the excitement is building as we approach the award ceremony on October 30 in Paris. Let’s into the list of nominees in the football world this year!
The Main Contenders: Ballon d’Or 2023
Lionel Messi: You’ve heard of him, right? Well, he’s back in the Ballon d’Or race, and this time, he’s representing Inter Miami. After leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar last year, Lionel Messi has a shot at winning the award for an incredible eighth time. He’s like the Michael Jordan of football!
Erling Haaland: Messi’s major competition this year is the young Norwegian sensation Haaland. He lit up the football field. He scored 52 goals in 53 appearances for Manchester City. In addition, he most recently won the UEFA Player of the Year honor.
Aitana Bonmati: Aitana Bonmati is leading the pack for the women’s Ballon d’Or. She played a main role as Spain lifted the World Cup in Sydney. Her standout performances for Barcelona in the Champions League make her a favorite to win.
Other Exciting Nominees
- Kylian Mbappe: The PSG superstar is always a strong contender, and he’s back in the mix.
- Kevin De Bruyne: Haaland’s teammate at Manchester City is hoping to steal the show.
- Karim Benzema: He is now with Saudi league team Al Ittihad
- Sam Kerr: The Chelsea and Australia striker is making her mark in the women’s category.
- Mary Earps: England’s goalkeeper is another name to watch out for.
Yashin Trophy and Kopa Trophy Nominees
While we’re on the topic, let’s not forget the Yashin Trophy and Kopa Trophy, which celebrate the best goalkeepers and young talents, respectively.
Men’s Ballon d’Or Nominees:
| Nominee | Club | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| André Onana | Manchester United | Cameroon |
| Josko Gvardiol | Manchester City | Croatia |
| Karim Benzema | Al Ittihad | France |
| Jamal Musiala | Bayern Munich | Germany |
| Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | Egypt |
| Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid | England |
| Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | England |
| Randal Kolo Muani | Paris Saint-Germain | France |
| Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City | Belgium |
| Bernardo Silva | Manchester City | Portugal |
| Emiliano Martínez | Aston Villa | Argentina |
| Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | Napoli | Georgia |
| Rúben Dias | Manchester City | Portugal |
| Nicolo Barella | Inter Milan | Italy |
| Erling Haaland | Manchester City | Norway |
| Yassine Bounou | Al Hilal | Morocco |
| Martin Ødegaard | Arsenal | Norway |
| Julián Álvarez | Manchester City | Argentina |
| Ilkay Gündogan | Barcelona | Germany |
| Vinícius Júnior | Real Madrid | Brazil |
| Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | Argentina |
| Rodri | Manchester City | Spain |
| Lautaro Martínez | Inter Milan | Argentina |
| Antoine Griezmann | Atletico Madrid | France |
| Robert Lewandowski | Barcelona | Poland |
| Kylian Mbappé | Paris Saint-Germain | France |
| Kim Min-jae | Napoli | South Korea |
| Victor Osimhen | Napoli | Nigeria |
| Luka Modric | Real Madrid | Croatia |
| Harry Kane | Bayern Munich | England |
Women’s Ballon d’Or Nominees:
| Nominee | Club(s) |
|---|---|
| Khadija Shaw | Manchester City |
| Mapi Leon | Barcelona |
| Mary Earps | Manchester United |
| Asisat Oshoala | Barcelona |
| Wendie Renard | Lyon |
| Katie Mccabe | Arsenal |
| Jill Roord | Wolfsburg and Man City |
| Yui Hasegawa | Manchester City |
| Alexandra Popp | Wolfsburg |
| Aitana Bonmati | Barcelona |
| Debinha | Kansas City |
| Sam Kerr | Chelsea |
| Guro Reiten | Chelsea |
| Ewa Pajor | Wolfsburg |
| Patricia Guijarro | Barcelona |
| Daphne Van Domselaar | Twente and Aston Villa |
| Lena Oberdorf | Wolfsburg |
| Hinata Miyazawa | MyNavi Sendai and Man United |
| Millie Bright | Chelsea |
| Salma Paralluelo | Barcelona |
| Sophia Smith | Portland Thorns |
| Hayley Raso | Manchester City and Real Madrid |
| Amanda Ilestedt | PSG and Arsenal |
| Georgia Stanway | Bayern Munich |
| Olga Ramona | Real Madrid |
| Fridolina Rolfo | Barcelona |
| Rachel Daly | Aston Villa |
| Alba Redondo | Levante |
| Linda Caicedo | Real Madrid |
| Kadidiatou Diani | Lyon |
Yashin Trophy Nominees:
| Nominee | Club(s) |
|---|---|
| Marc Andre Ter Stegen | Barcelona |
| Thibaut Courtois | Real Madrid |
| Mike Maignan | AC Milan |
| Yassine Bounou | Sevilla FC and Al-Hilal |
| Aaron Ramsdale | Arsenal |
| Emiliano Martinez | Aston Villa |
| Andre Onana | Manchester United and Inter Milan |
| Ederson | Manchester City |
| Brice Samba | RC Lens |
| Dominik Livakovic | Dinamo Zagreb and Fenerbahce |
Kopa Trophy Nominees:
| Nominee | Club(s) |
|---|---|
| Jude Bellingham | Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid |
| Gavi | FC Barcelona |
| Jamal Musiala | Bayern Munich |
| Eduardo Camavinga | Real Madrid |
| Pedri | FC Barcelona |
| Rasmus Hojlund | Atalanta and Manchester United |
| Alejandro Balde | Barcelona |
| Pedri | Barcelona |
| Eduardo Camavinga | Real Madrid |
| Xavi Simons | RB Leipzig |
| Antonio Silva | Benfica |
| Elye Wahi | RC Lens |
Read also: Nandha Kumar Sekar Biography, Wiki, Net worth 2023, Current Teams, Best Player
Conclusion
With such an exciting lineup of nominees, this year’s Ballon d’Or promises to be a nail-biter. Will Messi claim his eighth title, or will Haaland steal the spotlight? Can Aitana Bonmati continue her dominance in the women’s category? Stay tuned as we count down to the big reveal in Paris on October 30.
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