The Ballon d’Or ceremony is one of the most prestigious award ceremonies in the world of soccer. Over the years, many great players have been given the award for their immense contribution to the sport. Players like Kaka, Ronaldinho, Johan Cruyff, Frank Beckenbauer, and Lev Yasin have all got their hands on the prize over the years.
The ceremony for the 2023 Ballon d’Or is scheduled to take place on October 30, 2023, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France. The show is scheduled to start at 2:00 PM EDT. The official details of the livestream are still not revealed although fans hope to see the ceremony at Paramount+.
Two names that have stood out in the history of this award are Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentine great Lionel Messi. Both have been milestone holders in terms of the Ballon d’Or. On the one hand, the former Real Madrid star has won it five times. Whereas the former Barcelona maestro has won it for a record seven times.
That’s all… for today! 👋
We’ll see you soon! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/3O4aj4760M
— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@ballondor) September 6, 2023
However this year there has been a bit of a change as CR7 is not included in the list of nominees for the Ballon d’Or after 18 years. The tide of the soccer world seems to be changing as many new and young names have come up to be possible contenders for the award. Stars like Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinicius Jr are all on that list.
Who are the favorites to win the Ballon d’Or 2023?
The France Football Association has released the list of the top 30 nominees for this year’s Ballon d’Or. Many young names have made their place on the list like Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., Josko Gvardiol, etc.
HERE ARE ALL THE BALLON D’OR NOMINEES! 🌕✨#ballondor pic.twitter.com/hg1ZByzhDV
— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@ballondor) September 6, 2023
Although there have been two names in the list that are deemed to be the favorites to win the award this season. Let us take a closer look at who they are:
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
The Norwegian striker Erling Haaland was truly terrific working under Pep Guardiola. He made a great impact in his very first year in the Premier League. The player joined League champions Manchester City from the German giants Borussia Dortmund.
The player scored around 52 goals and 9 assists in 53 matches. He also played a pivotal role in City’s first-ever Champions League victory. The player went on to win the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup with City. Haaland was also recently nominated as the UEFA Best Player in Europe 2023.
Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain/ Inter Miami)
The Argentine great Lionel Messi has already won this award a record 7 times. This year too he is one of the favourites to win it. One reason behind this is the fact that he won the FIFA World Cup with his nation in December 2022. He won the Golden Ball award in the tournament too.
Apart from the World Cup, Messi has also left his mark in the French League. He has scored 21 goals and 20 assists in 41 games for PSG. The player has won the Ligue 1 this season with the club along with the French Super Cup.
