2023 Ballon d’Or Shortlist: Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland Top Men’s List, Aitana Bonmati Leads Women’s Category

In the race for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland have emerged as the frontrunners in the men’s category, while Aitana Bonmati of Spain has taken the lead among the women’s nominees.

At 36 years old, Messi boasts an astonishing seven Ballon d’Or trophies throughout his illustrious career and is considered the favorite to claim yet another, especially after his instrumental role in helping Argentina secure the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar.

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However, Messi faces stiff competition from Erling Haaland, who made a significant impact by netting an impressive 52 goals in his debut season with Manchester City. His contributions were instrumental in the club’s historic treble victory in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.

While Messi and Haaland are the standout contenders, they aren’t alone on the shortlist. Five other Manchester City players have also made their mark, with Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain standing as a strong challenger for the coveted award. Mbappe notably scored a remarkable hat-trick in the World Cup final, nearly carrying France to the brink of defending their title.

Karim Benzema, the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner, has rightfully earned his spot on the shortlist. However, notable by his absence is Cristiano Ronaldo, who experienced a mixed spell with Manchester United before transferring to Saudi side Al-Nassr in January.

The shortlist also includes England’s talented trio—Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, and Bukayo Saka—adding further excitement to the competition.

On the women’s front, Aitana Bonmati from Spain stands out as the top nominee for the Ballon d’Or Féminin. Her leadership played a pivotal role in Spain’s World Cup triumph in August, and she even secured the Golden Ball in the process, making her a strong favorite for the prize.

Bonmati, however, faces formidable competition from England’s Milie Bright, Georgia Stanway, Rachel Daly, and Mary Earps, who were runners-up to Spain at the World Cup.

It’s worth noting that Sam Kerr, who claimed third place in both 2021 and 2022, missed out on a nomination this time, despite her impressive tally of 29 goals that helped Chelsea secure a domestic double in 2023. Additionally, Alexia Putellas, the winner in 2021 and 2022, is absent from the list due to her prolonged absence from the field due to injury.

With Bonmati’s remarkable performance, Spain could potentially secure their third consecutive Ballon d’Or Féminin victory if she clinches the award.