The Ballon d’Or, which is arguably the most prestigious individual award in football, will be awarded tonight in Paris, and the excitement is building up among fans across the world.
Lionel Messi, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, is widely seen as the favourite to claim his eighth award, but he will face stiff competition from a host of other world-class players, including Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and a handful of other talented football stars.
Small reminder: all our nominees for tonight ceremony! 🌕✨#ballondor pic.twitter.com/Tr58aWbUCU
— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@ballondor) October 30, 2023
Messi had a sensational season in 2022/23, and there are insinuations that having lifted the Ballon d’Or, in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021, he looks good for an eighth triumph.
Osimhen’s case for the Ballon d’Or
Even though many will say he is an outsider, Osimhen is worthy to be named among the world’s best and he really worked hard to be here.
READ ALSO: Lewandowski to be honoured with salt ball after Ballon d’Or snub
Last season, Osimhen scored 26 goals in 32 Serie A appearances, finishing as the league’s top scorer (A feat no African player has ever achieved). That amazing feat helped Napoli to win their first Serie A title in 33 years.
He also led the Neapolitan side to a quarter-final finish in the Champions League.
Osimhen’s performances were electrifying, and he is one of the most exciting young players in the world.
Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Robert Lewandowski are some of the others who would be hoping for a memorable night in Paris.
From where you will be watching?! 📍
Schedule (🇫🇷 time)
5.15 PM – Start of ranking reveal
8.45 PM – Start of the ceremony#ballondor with @purnell_watches pic.twitter.com/JyaswIhPbg— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@ballondor) October 30, 2023
While the Award Ceremony is scheduled for 8.45 pm, organisers of the prestigious award will start revealing the ranking of the players three hours earlier
Stay with PREMIUM TIMES for all the LIVE UPDATES….
The Ballon d’Or ranking has begun, and the following players have been ranked from 26 to 30:
2023 Men’s Ballon d’Or ranking:
2️⃣6️⃣ Jamal Musiala
2️⃣7️⃣ Nicolo Barella
2️⃣8️⃣ Randal Kolo Muani
2️⃣8️⃣ Martin Ødegaard
3️⃣0️⃣ Ruben Dias#ballondor pic.twitter.com/KG5pRpr9eZ— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@ballondor) October 30, 2023
26-Jamal Musiala is a young German midfielder who plays for Bayern Munich. He is one of the most exciting young players in the world. He was formerly eligible to play for Nigeria but he has since pledged his allegiance to Germany.
27-Nicolo Barella is an Italian midfielder who plays for Inter Milan. He is one of the best midfielders in the world,
28-Randal Kolo Muani is a French striker who now plays for PSG having recently featured for Eintracht Frankfurt. He is one of the most promising young strikers in the world,m he scored 15 goals last season in the Bundesliga
28-Martin Ødegaard is a Norwegian midfielder who plays for Arsenal. He is a very creative and intelligent player, and he helped Arsenal to their best finish in the Premier League in recent times last season.
30-Ruben Dias is a Portuguese centre-back who plays for Manchester City. He is one of the best defenders in the world, and he helped City win the Premier League and Champions League last season.
2023 Men’s Ballon d’Or ranking:
2️⃣1️⃣ Antoine Griezmann
2️⃣2️⃣ Kim Min-jae
2️⃣3️⃣ André Onana
2️⃣4️⃣ Bukayo Saka
2️⃣5️⃣ Josko Gvardiol#ballondor pic.twitter.com/Bp9cDsrQHI— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@ballondor) October 30, 2023
The following players have been ranked from 21 to 25 in the Ballon d’Or ranking:
21-Antoine Griezmann is a French forward who plays for Atlético Madrid. He is one of the best forwards in the world, and trickery on the ball is enviable
22-Kim Min-jae is a South Korean centre-back who plays for Napoli. He is one of the best defenders in Serie A, and he helped Napoli win their first Scudetto in 33 years last season.
23-André Onana is a Cameroonian goalkeeper who now plays for Manchester United after moving from Inter. It hasn’t been the best of times in England for the shot-stopper and nothing suggests Onana will be on this list next season
24-Bukayo Saka is an English winger who plays for Arsenal. He is one of the most exciting young players in the world. His phenomenal rise with the Gunners and England’s Three Lions is quite remarkable
25-Josko Gvardiol is a Croatian centre-back who now plays for Man City after a move from RB Leipzig.
Ballon d’Or Ranking 16-20
The following players have been ranked from 16 to 20 in the Ballon d’Or ranking:
2023 Men’s Ballon d’Or ranking:
1️⃣6️⃣ Karim Benzema
1️⃣7️⃣ Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
1️⃣8️⃣ Jude Bellingham
1️⃣9️⃣ Harry Kane
2️⃣0️⃣ Lautaro Martinez#ballondor pic.twitter.com/Jw6RCYPQ2a— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@ballondor) October 30, 2023
16-Karim Benzema is a French striker who now plays in the lucrative Saudi Arabia League. He was the winner of the top prize last season but his stock has dropped and now occupies the 16th position.
17-Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is a Georgian winger who plays for Napoli. He is one of the most exciting young players in the world, and he had a breakout season last season, scoring 12 goals and providing 14 assists in all competitions.
18-Jude Bellingham is an English midfielder who now plays for Real Madrid after a sensational move from Borussia Dortmund. Since arriving in Spain, Bellingham has hit the ground running with 13 goals in 13 matches with the last set coming from last weekend’s El Classico
19-Harry Kane is an English striker who now plays for Bayern Munich after a long spell at Tottenham Hotspur. He is one of the best strikers in the world and he is already proving his mettle in Germany where he has a dozen goals and still counting
Lautaro Martinez is an Argentine striker who plays for Inter Milan. He is one of the best strikers in Serie A, and he helped Inter Milan to win the Coppa Italia last season.
Ballon d’Or Ranking 16-20
The following players have been ranked from 16 to 20 in the Ballon d’Or ranking:
2023 Men’s Ballon d’Or ranking:
1️⃣6️⃣ Karim Benzema
1️⃣7️⃣ Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
1️⃣8️⃣ Jude Bellingham
1️⃣9️⃣ Harry Kane
2️⃣0️⃣ Lautaro Martinez#ballondor pic.twitter.com/Jw6RCYPQ2a— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@ballondor) October 30, 2023
16-Karim Benzema is a French striker who now plays in the lucrative Saudi Arabia League. He was the winner of the top prize last season but his stock has dropped and now occupies the 16th position.
17-Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is a Georgian winger who plays for Napoli. He is one of the most exciting young players in the world, and he had a breakout season last season, scoring 12 goals and providing 14 assists in all competitions.
18-Jude Bellingham is an English midfielder who now plays for Real Madrid after a sensational move from Borussia Dortmund. Since arriving in Spain, Bellingham has hit the ground running with 13 goals in 13 matches with the last set coming from last weekend’s El Classico
19-Harry Kane is an English striker who now plays for Bayern Munich after a long spell at Tottenham Hotspur. He is one of the best strikers in the world and he is already proving his mettle in Germany where he has a dozen goals and still counting
Lautaro Martinez is an Argentine striker who plays for Inter Milan. He is one of the best strikers in Serie A, and he helped Inter Milan to win the Coppa Italia last season.
Ballon d’Or Ranking 11-15
2023 Men’s Ballon d’Or ranking:
1️⃣1️⃣ Mohamed Salah
1️⃣2️⃣ Robert Lewandowski
1️⃣3️⃣ Yassine Bounou
1️⃣4️⃣ Ilkay Gündogan
1️⃣5️⃣ Emiliano Martinez#ballondor pic.twitter.com/eyh8lx1KXW— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@ballondor) October 30, 2023
The following players have been ranked from 11 to 15 in the Ballon d’Or ranking:
11-Mohamed Salah is an Egyptian forward who plays for Liverpool. He is one of the best forwards in the world, and he has won several trophies with Liverpool, including the Premier League and Champions League.
12-Robert Lewandowski is a Polish striker who plays for Barcelona. He is one of the most lethal strikers in the world
13-Yassine Bounou is a Moroccan goalkeeper who plays for Sevilla. His heroics with the Atlas Lions at the last World Cup will be remembered for many years to come
14-Ilkay Gündogan is a German midfielder who now plays for Barcelona after a good spell at Manchester City where he won almost everything; including the Premier League and Champions League last season.
15-Emiliano Martinez is an Argentine goalkeeper who plays for Aston Villa. He is one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, and he helped Argentina win the World Cup last year
The stars have started arriving for the big ceremony tonight and we have the Top 10 players left to go… Where would Nigera’s Victor Osimhen end up ???
Eden Hazard ! 😍 #ballondor pic.twitter.com/p9WrQKXGRy
— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@ballondor) October 30, 2023
The hosts for tonight’s show Didier Drogba and Sandy Héribert are arrived
We have the first ‘winner’ tonight
Jude Bellingham has won the 2023 Kopa Trophy, congrats.
The English forward has been enjoying a remarkable form capable of bringing him more laurels in the months ahead..
JUDE BELLINGHAM IS THE 2023 KOPA TROPHY! #TrophéeKopa #ballondor pic.twitter.com/JuEvgY1WAO
— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@ballondor) October 30, 2023
Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen is ranked Number 8 in the world tonight.. Fantastic one for the Napoli striker who is the highest ranked African this year
JUDE BELLINGHAM IS THE 2023 KOPA TROPHY! #TrophéeKopa #ballondor pic.twitter.com/JuEvgY1WAO
— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@ballondor) October 30, 2023
Novak Djokovic to announce the winner of the Women’s Ballon D’or winner
And the winner is Spain and Barcelona’s Aitana Bomati
David Beckham on the stage for the presentation of the men’s Ballon D’or winner… He pays special tribute Sir Bobby Charlton
Sir Bobby Charlton won the Ballon D’or in 1966
The 2023 Ballon D’or Award winner is Lionel Messi.. A record extending eighth award for the Argentine
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