Arsenal Ballon d'Or verdicts given as Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard nominated
Former Premier League stars Joe Cole and Joleon Lescott have disagreed on who they believe will lift the prestigious Ballon d'Or trophy at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Monday, October 30.
The Ballon d'Or is the football world's highest individual award and was previously awarded to the person with the best player performance during the calendar year but has now been changed to the previous season. It means that those able to vote will cast their judgement based on the entire 2022/23 season after the rules were changed in March last year.
The general consensus for this year is that either Inter Miami and Argentina forward Lionel Messi or Manchester City's Erling Haaland will win the award. Messi is going for his eighth Ballon d’Or victory after leading his country to their third World Cup, while Haaland is hoping to win his first having been crowned UEFA’s Player of the Year, the FWA's Footballer of the Year and the Premier League's Player of the Season, Young Player of the Season and Golden Boot awards.
Also nominated for the award are Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, who helped the Gunners pose a significant title challenge to Man City last season with the pair netting 15 goals each in all competitions. Former Tottenham striker Harry Kane is also nominated, alongside the likes of Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, Man City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Former City defender Lescott has explained why he believes it'll be Haaland picking up the honour for the first time rather than Messi. Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: «There’s been years when Messi has won the treble and scored 50 goals.
»There was never a doubt that he wasn’t going to win and now someone else has done it
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