Messi, Haaland or Mbappe… who deserves 2023 Ballon d’Or?
Every player hopes to one day win the Ballon d’Or because it is the most prestigious individual award in football.
Ex-Real Madrid player and former France international Karim Benzema won the Ballon d’Or in 2022. The trophy first debuted in 1956, with England legend Stanley Matthews emerging as the first winner.
As the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony closes in, we take a look at the top three contenders and and their chances.
The Argentine football superstar is largely recognised as one of the sport’s all-time greats. Messi continued to display his extraordinary abilities in the 2022–23 season, scoring goals, dishing out assists, and in some instances, turning games around on his own.
Since the nominations were revealed in September, Lionel Messi has been considered the favorite to take home the Ballon d’Or.
The former Barcelona player scored seven goals and provided three assists, as he guided Argentina to World Cup victory in Qatar.
Lionel Messi did not have a very good second half of 2022-2023 season but his world Cup win with Argentina might just be enough to earn him his eight Ballon d’Or.
In 2022-2023 season, Messi had 42 goals and 26 assists. He also won World Cup, Ligue 1 & Trophee des Champions.
The Norwegian striker is rapidly making a name for himself as one of the football’s most dangerous finishers. Haaland maintained his remarkable goal-scoring form in the 2022–23 campaign, routinely finding the back of the net.
Some people have predicted that Haaland and Mbappe will compete for the Ballon d’Or for years. In all likelihood, Haaland will be aware that the fact that he is Norwegian means that he had to likely win the Champions League to stand more chances of winning the Golden ball as it will be more difficult to win The FIFA World Cup with Norway.
He might have won the ChampionsLeague, but it is still doubtful if that is enough in a year that Lionel Messi won the World Cup with Argentina.
Haaland scored 56 goals and provided nine assists in 2022-2023 season while also winning the treble — UEFA Champions League, English Premier League & FA Cup — with Manchester City.
Late in April, it appeared as though he would unquestionably be at the top of the Ballon d’Or standings by the end of the season.
However, it looks now that he will probably fall short despite the fact that his efforts were crucial to Pep Guardiola’s team winning the treble. He scored one in his last eight appearances for City towards the end of the season.
The 2022–23 was the season many predicted may be the one in which Kylian Mbappé fully shines. He has been a rising star in the world of football for years. The French forward has the potential to dominate the footballing world considering his amazing speed, talent, and goal-scoring prowess.
Although he has been top 10 five times, he has never made it to the podium as the winner. This year, with just domestic trophy secured, that is unlikely to change. It makes sense why he wants to leave PSG.
In Qatar, Mbappe led France with skill and even scored a hat-trick against Argentina in the FIFA World Cup final match, but the French team ultimately lost on penalties after a thrilling contest.
With 55 goals scored and 14 assists provided, the FIFA 2022 World Cup Golden Boot and a Ligue 1 winners medal, Mbappe himself believes he has done enough to win the Ballon d’Or in 2023, and it isn’t difficult to build a case for him to do just that.
However, his failure in Qatar and lack of a strong Champions League performance are likely to prevent him from winning what seemed to be his first Ballon d’Or.
By Chimezie Amos
