It's that time of the year again when the best and brightest footballers gather in Paris to determine the Ballon d'Or winner. The prestigious award, orchestrated by France Football magazine, has been the pinnacle of individual achievement in football since its inception in 1956. So, what is the 2023 Ballon d'Or ceremony date? The 2023 Ballon d'Or ceremony will occur at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30.
Ballon d'Or 2023 Favorites
Former Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema won the award for the first time last year — how could anyone forget his iconic drip Tupac suit? Surprisingly, seven-time Ballon d'Or Lionel Messi failed to make last year's list of nominees. But the GOAT took his absence personally, teeing up a remarkable 2022/23 season with the World Cup trophy.
Yet, Erling Haaland could challenge the Inter Miami star to his record eight Ballon d'Or. The 23-year-old Norwegian striker guided Manchester City to their first-ever Champions League title, topped off with the Premier League and FA Cups trophies to win the Treble.
Haaland scored a remarkable 52 strikes in 53 games, comfortably making him Europe's top-scorer last term. Thirty-six goals came in the Premier League, setting a new league record.
Who would you give the 2023 Ballon d'Or to, Messi or Haaland…one of the others below?
Ballon d'Or 2023 Power Rankings Top 5: Who takes home this year's award?
| Rank | Player Name | Goals | Assists | Major Achievements | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | 32 | 25 | World Cup, Trophée des Champions | 4/9 |
| 2 | Erling Haaland | 52 | 9 | Golden Boot Winner, PFA Player of the Year, Treble Winner | 7/4 |
| 3 | Kylian Mbappé | 41 | 10 | World Cup Golden Boot (8 goals), Trophée des Champions | 33/1 |
| 4 | Vinicius Junior | 23 | 21 | Copa del Rey, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup | 33/1 |
| 5 | Kevin De Bruyne | 10 | 31 | Treble Winner | 33/1 |
Photo: Instagram/leomessi, erling.haaland
