Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland are emerging as strong contenders for this year's prestigious men's Ballon d'Or, while Aitana Bonmati, a standout star of the Spain Women's World Cup squad, leads the impressive lineup of nominees in the women's category.
Messi, who recently made a move from Paris Saint-Germain to Inter Miami, is poised to compete for his eighth Ballon d'Or award, following his instrumental role in guiding Argentina to World Cup victory in Qatar last year. His exceptional career has already earned him seven of these coveted titles. Haaland, on the other hand, stands as a formidable rival to Messi's aspirations, given his remarkable record of scoring 52 goals in 53 matches. His contributions played a pivotal role in Manchester City's triumphant season, where they clinched the treble of Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup.
Haaland recently secured the UEFA Player of the Year accolade for the previous season, further solidifying his reputation as one of football's rising stars. Among the 30 nominees for the Ballon d'Or are also Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain and Kevin De Bruyne, Haaland's teammate at Manchester City. Notably, Karim Benzema, who concluded his 14-year tenure with Real Madrid in June when he transferred to Saudi club Al-Ittihad, remains in contention for the prestigious award.
In the women's category, Aitana Bonmati, who claimed the UEFA Women's Player of the Year accolade, emerges as the frontrunner for the Ballon d'Or. Her outstanding performances were pivotal in Spain's victorious Women's World Cup campaign held in Sydney last month. Furthermore, she played a pivotal role in Barcelona's triumphant run in the Champions League. Bonmati aspires to succeed her club and national teammate, Alexia Putellas, who secured the Ballon d'Or in the past two years.
Notably, Alexia Putellas is absent from this year's list of nominees, primarily due to her limited involvement in Barcelona's matches last season. She suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate knee ligament in July 2022, which sidelined her for an extensive period of nine months. Bonmati is joined by several members of Spain's World Cup-winning squad, including Olga Carmona, Salma Paralluelo, and Alba Redondo. Additionally, Patricia Guijarro and Mapi Leon, who both play for Barcelona, have also been nominated. These players notably abstained from participating in the World Cup after being part of a group of 15 players who expressed their refusal to represent Spain as a form of protest against the Spanish federation and coach Jorge Vilda.
The roster of 30 nominees also includes prominent figures like Sam Kerr, the prolific Chelsea and Australia striker, and Mary Earps, the accomplished England goalkeeper. The anticipation for the Ballon d'Or ceremony, scheduled for October 30 in Paris, is mounting as these exceptional athletes vie for the prestigious recognition.
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