Ranking the best for Ballon d’Or 2023. With the presentation of the final trophy for the 2022–23 season, the competition for the 2023 Ballon d’Or was over.
Over the course of the previous season, footballers from all over the world argued for the most coveted individual award in the sport.
The battle for the 2023 Ballon d’Or was made more competitive by several players’ outstanding performances.
The honor was given in 2022 to Karim Benzema.
In contrast to 2023, where there was no doubt about the winner, the Frenchman was far and away the best, there was a winner last time.
It has turned out to be tough to make predictions on who will win the Ballon d’Or this year.
The top five candidates for this year’s Ballon d’Or are listed below without further ado.
#5 Kevin De Bruyne
There is no way to dispute the fact that Kevin De Bruyne is currently Europe’s assist king.
When Manchester City sped to a European treble last season, the Belgian midfield maestro was the team’s primary architect.
De Bruyne was at the top of his game, selecting passes that his teammates might not even consider and generating chances out of thin air.
In 49 appearances in all competitions for Pep Guardiola’s team in the 2022–23 season, the 31-year-old scored 10 goals and dished out an astounding 31 assists.
In the contest for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, he is unquestionably the underdog.
#4 Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe might have been the favorite to take home the coveted Ballon d’Or this year if the only thing that mattered when receiving the award was an individual player’s accomplishments.
Unfortunately, that is not the case.
Despite winning the Ligue 1 championship with Paris Saint-Germain and receiving tremendous individual honors, the Frenchman is probably going to fall just short of winning the Ballon d’Or.
At the FIFA World Cup 2022, Mbappe won the Golden Boot award.
Even in the championship match against Argentina, he grabbed a hat-trick for France, but Les Bleus ultimately fell to the South Americans on penalties.
The 24-year-old also ended the 2022–23 campaign as Ligue 1’s leading scorer.
He might, however, only finish this year on the Ballon d’Or podium at best due to the even more incredible accomplishments of his contemporaries.
#3 Rodri
Rodri, the pivotal midfielder for Manchester City, has now made a name for himself as the best holding midfielder in the world.
The Spanish player’s services were crucial to Manchester City’s continental treble victory last season.
He is a very smart and technically adept competitor.
He maintains order in midfield, engages in conflict when necessary, and excels at his duty of bolstering City’s defense.
In the Champions League final versus Inter Milan, Rodri scored the game-winning goal for Manchester City.
Additionally, he helped Spain win the UEFA Nations League this summer.
Rodri ought to at the very least reach this year’s Ballon d’Or podium.
#2 Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland joined Manchester City, where he completely scared opponents with his prodigious goal-scoring abilities in his first season in England.
He’s only 23 years old, yet he’s already a world-class striker, possibly the finest ever.
The Norwegian marksman’s abilities are virtually limitless, as was made clear by the methodical manner in which he broke records for City the previous season.
In 53 games across all competitions for Manchester City in the 2022–23 season, he racked up an incredible 52 goals and nine assists.
Future predictions suggest that he will win many Ballon d’Ors. He might not have a good year, though.
#1 Lionel Messi
It would be tough to ignore Lionel Messi’s compelling case for a record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or in the 2022–23 season.
He did not forget to throw the kitchen sink at it as he led Argentina to what was likely his final World Cup.
Messi was the tournament’s Golden Ball winner, led La Albiceleste to the World Cup victory with seven goals, and won the Golden Ball.
He put on a succession of mesmerizing displays to further establish his claim to the title of greatest footballer of all time.
His final campaign in the French capital saw him win the Ligue 1 championship with PSG, and he also had a very successful domestic campaign.
In 41 games across all competitions for the Parisians last season, Messi contributed 20 assists and 21 goals.
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