The race for the 2023 Ballon d’Or race is over, with the best footballers in the world grinding over the past 11 months to dethrone Karim Benzema and lift the illustrious Golden Ball this October. The former Real Madrid star became the first Frenchman to lift the coveted trophy since Zinedine Zidane in a result that shows Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s monopoly on the award could be coming to an end. Having said that, it has not stopped the Argentinian legend leading the charge for the Ballon d’Or in 2023. It always promised to be a unique battle for the award with the World Cup in Qatar taking place in the middle of the 2022/23 campaign and Messi’s magic on the grand stage understandably puts him in contention. Whether the realization of that lifelong ambition will end up too distant a memory by the time votes are cast in August is yet to be seen, but the 36-year-old playing the starring role for his country in a World Cup winning campaign certainly enhanced his chances. But who are the players vying to claim the Golden Ball for themselves and stop the little magician claiming a record eighth Ballon d’Or? Here’s our look at the favourites to claim the coveted prize in 2023.
Lionel Messi
There aren’t any superlatives left to describe this once-in-a-lifetime talent; he is simply the G.O.A.T. The only criticism levied at the new Inter Miami forward over the last decade has been that he could never bring a trophy home on the international stage and that was finally put to rest last December. His seven goals and three assists over the course of the Qatar World Cup helped bring the famous trophy home to Argentina for the first time since 1986. In doing so not only has he exorcized generations of Argentinian footballing demons but also put an end to the endless Ronaldo vs Messi debate. However, this season has been far from his best on a club level, with PSG once again falling short on the European stage and only just clinching the Ligue 1 title. But in the grand scheme of things that second half dip in form seems inconsequential in the face of his now iconic World Cup triumph. The greatest player of all time now has the greatest accolade befitting of his talents and that has placed him front and centre, in pole position to win his eighth Ballon d’Or with odds of 8/15.
Erling Haaland
52 goals in 53 games with a historic treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League trophies in the bag. Has there ever been a better first season for a new club in the history of the game? The Norwegian superstar has become one of, if not the best player in the world this season. Haaland broke countless records this season, most of them in his first ten games in fact, as his goals propelled Pep Guardiola’s side to City’s most successful season in club history. He was the Spaniard’s most valuable asset and that’s saying something when belonging to a City side that contains four or five other Ballon d’Or contenders. In any other season where this contest might seem like a foregone conclusion, but according to the best betting sites, Haaland is 11/8 to win the Ballon d’Or, in second-place. Messi’s World Cup win and a run of one goal in City’s last eight games places the prolific striker just behind the Argentinian with the bookies.
Kevin De Bruyne
It comes as no surprise that one of Haaland’s teammates follows closely behind him on the list of contenders at 15/1, such was the brilliance of City’s side last season. The Belgian is one of the best playmakers of his generation and proved so again this season providing 32 assists and 10 goals over the course of the 2022/23 campaign. If not for Haaland’s gargantuan tally of goals De Bruyne would be a shoe-in for the best player in City’s squad this season. His form played a huge part in City rounding out the season in such spectacular fashion. Watching the midfielder limp off in Champions League final was a bittersweet moment knowing the importance of his performances in getting the team there but regardless, finishing on the winning side has boosted his chances in the Ballon d’Or contest even if Belgium underperformed in Qatar in the winter. He is a dark horse but would do well to nip ahead of either his teammate or Messi.
Vinicius Jr.
The Brazilian winger has been making waves in the footballing world the past few seasons and is slowly but surely becoming one of the best players in the world. A footballer made for the big occasion, Vinicius has scored some vital goals for Real Madrid in the past 24 months, most notably the winner in the 2022 Champions League final against Liverpool. He carried that momentum forward into last season contributing 25 goals and 26 assists demonstrating his mesmerising dribbling, explosive pace and eye for goal throughout the campaign. His undeniable ability puts him in the elite group of players that can be dubbed world class but the 22-year-old is likely to fall short of claiming his first Ballon d’Or on this occasion, with odds of 40/1. Falling short domestically and in the Champions League will mean he is behind the likes of Haaland, Messi and De Bruyne in the pecking order but if the Brazilian continues his rich vein of form, he will be lifting the Golden Ball sooner rather than later.
Kylian Mbappe
The French superstar has enjoyed another stellar year with 55 goals and 14 assists for club and country. The 24-year-old also secured another Ligue 1 title and propelled France to the World Cup final in which he scored only the second World Cup final hat-trick in history. It was not enough for Didier Deschamps’ side to claim back-to-back World Cup victories and ultimately that is what places him low down on the list of potential contenders. Despite a number of personal accolades and a massive tally of goals over the course of the campaign, PSG’s inability to perform in Europe is what will provide the biggest roadblock in Mbappe’s pursuit of the Ballon d’Or yet again. It’s almost inevitable that the goalscorer will earn a Ballon d’Or at some point in his career but it seems unlikely on this occasion, as he is a massive outsider with odds of 100/1 to take home the trophy.
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