Men’s Ballon d’Or 2023: full list of nominees for the France Football award
Argentina captain Lionel Messi is in the running for an eighth Ballon d’Or win with Erling Harland and Kylian Mbappé are his main rivals for the award.
Everything points to Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi adding to his collection of seven Ballon d’Or trophies when the 2023 ceremony is held in Paris on Monday night. The current MLS star appears set to be rewarded for leading Argentina to their first World Cup in 36 years - and The Herons to their first ever trophy with their 2023 Leagues Cup earlier this summer.
Despite Messi being the firm favourite for soccer’s most prestigious individual award, the main contenders this year for the award come in the shape of Erling Haaland and PSG striker Kylian Mbappé.
It felt as if Manchester City striker Erling Haaland was breaking records every week in 2022-23 and the Norwegian has started this season in similar fashion. The 23-year-old striker secured a historic treble (Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League) with Manchester City, scoring 52 goals across all competitions in his debut season for the club.
The other big favourite is Kylian Mbappe, who won the Golden Boot at the World Cup in Qatar, scoring eight times for France, including a hat-trick in the final. The fact Les Bleus ended up on the losing side could count against him, however, as might Paris Saint-Germain’s poor form for much of 2023.
Last year’s winner Karim Benzema is nominated once again, although playing in the Saudi Pro League has done nothing to bring the Frenchman’s former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won on five occasions, back into the fold with the Al Nassr veteran striker missing the cut for the shortlist.
André Onana - Inter-Manchester United/Cameroon
Josko Gvardiol - RB
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