BALLON D'OR
Who are the favorites to win the men’s Ballon d’Or 2023? Messi, Haaland, Mbappé...
The prestigious 2023 Ballon d’Or gala is to take place at the Théâtre du Châtelet in the French capital of Paris on Monday 30 October 2023.
All eyes across the footballing world will be trained on the French capital on Monday as the 2023 Ballon d’Or gala will take place at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris with the ceremony is expected to get underway at 4pm ET/1pm PT.
In addition to the men’s and women’s Ballons d’Or prizes, a number of other awards are to be presented at the gala. They include the Kopa Trophy, for the best under-21 men’s player, and the Yashin Trophy, for the best men’s goalkeeper.
2023 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony: Get all of the updated information here live online
Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí, who starred for Spain as they clinched their first ever World Cup this summer in Australia, is tipped to will her first her first ever Ballon d’Or and the men’s award seems to be a three horse race with one clear favourite.
Messi leads the way
Lionel Messi seems set to add to his collection of seven Ballon d’Or trophies on Monday night as 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.
The Rosario native bagged seven goals at the Qatar 2022 World Cup and after the Albiceleste were stunned in their Lusail opener falling to Saudi Arabia (2-1), Messi led the way to the delight of the thousands of Argentine fans who made the trip to the Gulf to see the South American side add to their 1978 and 1986 triumphs.
Haaland treble
In any other season, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland would be a shoe-in for the award as the 23-year-old striker secured a historic treble (Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League) with City in his debut season with the English side scoring 52 goals across all competitions in his debut season for the club.
The Norwegian will undoubtedly grace future award ceremonies with City boss Pep Guardiola recently stating: “I always said that the Ballon d’Or had to be of two sections - one for Messi and one for the others. Haaland should win. We won the treble because he scored 52 goals but, of course, Messi - his worst season is the best of most players. Both deserve it”.
Mbappé hopes
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 with the Parisians crashing out of the Champions League at the hands of Bayern Munich.
Other contenders
2022 winner Karim Benzema who now plays for Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad along with Man City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne and Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr. are other outside bets in what seems to very much a one-horse Men’s Ballon d’Or race this year.