The most esteemed individual award in football is the Ballon d'Or. With its illustrious past and beloved tradition, this prized honor has come to stand for the highest level of individual success in the beautiful game.
Every year, when football's most outstanding talents compete for the honor of being named the world's finest player, the Ballon d'Or winner is announced to the world's anticipation.
Beyond the flash and glamor, the Ballon d'Or is a symbol of the never-ending quest for excellence and the immortalization of football greats. The national team captains, coaches, and members of the media all cast ballots to determine the award winner.
Here are the top five candidates to win the 2023 Ballon d'Or without further ado.
#5 is Napoli's Victor Osimhen.
Victor Osimhen has increased his game this season, and as a result of his exploits throughout the campaign, he has now cemented his position as one of the top attackers in the world.
The Nigerian international has excelled for Luciano Spalletti's squad, helping them win the Serie A championship and advance to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.
Osimhen is an agile and strong attacker who excels at using his size to hold up the ball and activate teammates. Additionally, he has a precise finishing ability and can score from anywhere on the field.
Osimhen made 38 appearances for Napoli in all competitions in 202223, making 30 goals and contributing five assists. Has he performed well enough to merit a podium position for the Ballon d'Or? It's challenging to say.
#4 Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne
In previous years, Kevin De Bruyne has excelled for Manchester City, and the 202223 season has been no exception. De Bruyne has been City's driving force in terms of creativity, and both fans and experts continue to be in awe of his tremendous passing skill and vision.
De Bruyne has made 48 appearances for Manchester City in all competitions so far this season, totaling 10 goals and an incredible 31 assists. He is a strong candidate for the 2023 Ballon d'Or because he has won the FA Cup as well as the Premier League championship.
#3 is Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe.
Bayern Munich's elimination of Paris Saint-Germain from the Champions League in the Round of 16 has not helped Kylian Mbappe's bid for his first Ballon d'Or. However, Mbappe's outstanding goal-scoring performance for club and country may be enough to get him to the top.
This season, Mbappe has more than 50 goals between his club and nation. He won the Golden Boot at the FIFA World Cup 2022 and scored three goals in the championship game against Argentina.
The 24-year-old has contributed 10 assists and scored 41 goals in 43 games for Paris Saint-Germain across all competitions so far this season.
Erling Haaland, who has already won the Premier League and FA Cup with Manchester City, appears to be headed for a continental trifecta. Haaland has already broken the record for the most goals scored in a single Premier League season thanks to his incredible goal-scoring performance.
After scoring 36 goals in the Premier League this season, he is also expected to win the European Golden Shoe.
He will probably beat out Lionel Messi for the 2023 Ballon d'Or if he can assist City defeat Inter Milan in the Champions League final. Haaland has scored 52 goals and given nine assists in 52 games for Manchester City so far this season across all competitions.
#1 is Paris Saint-Germain's Lionel Messi.
Lionel Messi was the favorite to win a record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or after leading Argentina to World Cup victory and taking home the Golden Ball at football's biggest tournament. However, the Argentinian legend has had a somewhat dismal domestic season despite his incredible numbers.
His early elimination from the Champions League was a major setback despite his contribution to PSG winning the Ligue 1 championship. Messi may not be the overwhelming favorite anymore, but he still has a chance to win the Ballon d'Or.
The 35-year-old has made 41 appearances for PSG this season in all competitions, and in those 41 games, he has scored 21 goals and assisted 20 other
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