Ballon d’Or: Ranking the Top 6 Favourites As Haaland Overtakes Messi for July 2023
- The 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for October this year
- The main contenders for the award are Erling Haalands and Lionel Messi
- The award is also up for grabs for Rodri, Kevin de Bruyne and Kylian Mbappe
The most esteemed individual award in football is the Ballon d’Or.
It is given to the football player who has had the best season by the French news publication France Football.
The Ballon d’Or has developed into a symbol of the highest level of individual achievement in football over time.
As previously reported by Sports Brief, a combination of votes from media representatives, captains of the national teams, and coaches determines the Ballon d’Or winner.
The privilege of taking home the Ballon d’Or has only been afforded to the greatest players to ever lace up a pair of boots.
? Classement du Ballon d’or 2023 PopFoot https://t.co/E38t9USIKF pic.twitter.com/kjn31djIhZ
— PopFoot (@ThePopFoot) June 25, 2023
The Ballon d’Or race is thrilling this year, and it’s hard to predict who will win the prestigious award, Goal reported.
Here are the top six candidates to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or as of July 2023…
Vinicius Junior
Vinicius has advanced from being the underdog to a determined and resolute candidate for the 2023 Ballon d’Or award.
There is still some way to go before he becomes a ‘favourite’, but his performances last season have closed the gap with those deemed ahead of him.
In the 2022/23 campaign, the Brazilian established himself as one of the most in-form players.
According to Soccerway, the electrifying winger had the best scoring season of his career last season, scoring 23, in all competitions, surpassing the 22 of the 2021/22 season.
In total, he had participated in 42 of the team’s 121 goals, a massive 35%, per Diario AS.
Rodri
He has done enough to warrant a place on the Ballon d’Or podium this year. Currently, Rodri is regarded as the world’s best-holding midfielder.
Thanks to his exceptional game intelligence and superb technical abilities, the Spaniard can perform the duties of two midfielders without even breaking a sweat.
He started more games across all competitions than his teammates during the 2022–23 season as a dependable and consistent performer for City.
The 26-year-old also scored the winning goal for City against Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
After completing the continental treble with City, Rodri went on to play a significant part in leading Spain to victory in the UEFA Nations League in June.
Kevin De Bryune
Kevin De Bruyne, the brains behind Manchester City, had yet another outstanding season to add to his impressive resume.
The Belgian midfielder is still going strong in his 30s despite being older. He has now essentially established himself as the best midfielder of his generation.
It would be a fitting beginning to the journey if he won the Ballon d’Or in his first season in the Premier League.
Ballon d’Or Winner Odds
Sports Brief reported earlier that the 2023 Ballon d’Or winner will be named in October, and many believe the prestigious award belongs to either Lionel Messi or Erling Haaland.
The prestigious prize is the most desired by any player who gets the anointing of the best footballer in the world by a panel of experts, international coaches and captains.
Although the rules changed in 2022, as the award is now presented to the best player in a football season instead of a calendar year.
