The Ballon d’Or, football’s highest honor, unites the most outstanding and impressive players from the past year to celebrate their remarkable achievements that delighted and inspired millions of football fans worldwide.
Karim Benzema, the former Real Madrid sensation, currently holds the prestigious award, but his reign is expected to come to an end when the 2023 edition unfolds.
Since the Frenchman won in 2022, epic football events have taken place from Lionel Messi leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar to Erling Haaland proving unstoppable by defenders in Europe as he guided Manchester City to their first-ever European glory in the UEFA Champions League, not to forget Aitana Bonmati trailblazing performance pivotal to Spain being crowned world champions at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The competition for this prestigious award promises to be intense as fans eagerly await the unveiling of the nominees and the eventual winners.
WHEN WILL THE BALLON D’OR 2023 NOMINEES BE REVEALED?
The nominees for the Men’s Ballon d’Or, Women’s Ballon d’Or, Yashin Trophy, and Kopa Trophy will be announced on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. The list will include 30 nominees for the Men’s Ballon d’Or, 20 for the Women’s Ballon d’Or, and 10 each for the Yashin and Kopa awards, which are presented to the best goalkeeper and Under-21 player, respectively.
WHEN IS THE BALLON D’OR 2023 CEREMONY?
The Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30. The winners of the Ballon d’Or 2023 will be revealed during this event.
WHO ARE THE FRONT-RUNNERS FOR THE MEN’S BALLON D’OR 2023?
Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland are the top contenders for the men’s award due to their outstanding performances with Argentina and Manchester City, respectively.
Vinicius Junior, Kevin De Bruyne, Kylian Mbappe, and Rodri are other players also expected to feature prominently in the list.
WHO ARE THE TOP CONTENDERS FOR THE WOMEN’S BALLON D’OR 2023?
Barcelona and Spain standout, Bonmati, who played a pivotal role in Spain’s triumph at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, is widely considered the frontrunner for the award previously won by her teammate, Alexia Putellas.
Bonmati’s exceptional performance in the tournament, where she featured in every match and played a vital role in Coach Jorge Vilda’s team, makes her a strong candidate to follow in Putellas’ footsteps.
Another strong contender is Chelsea’s Sam Kerr, who scored an impressive 29 goals for Chelsea last season, contributing to their domestic double victory before representing the Matildas at the World Cup.
