The Ballon d'Or is the most prestigious individual award in football, given annually by the French news magazine France Football to the season's most outstanding player.
The winner of this prestigious award is determined by a combination of voting by media members, national team captains, and coaches, who collectively select the best performer.
Karim Benzema received the prestigious award in 2022. The competition for the 2023 Ballon d'Or is now in full swing, and the outcome will most likely be heavily influenced by the results of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
1. Neymar
During the early stages of the 2022-23 season, Neymar Jr. was widely regarded as one of the best players in the world, showcasing his world-class abilities and dominating performances for Paris Saint-Germain week after week.
Unfortunately, Neymar's World Cup dreams were dashed in the quarterfinals due to form and fitness issues. Despite this setback, his statistics for PSG remain outstanding. In 25 appearances across all competitions, he has scored 17 goals and provided 15 assists.
2. Lewandowski
At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Robert Lewandowski struggled to meet his usual standards for the Polish national team. Despite a difficult experience in what could have been his final World Cup appearance, he has been unstoppable at the club level. Last summer, he moved from Bayern Munich to Barcelona.
Lewandowski has filled a void in Barcelona's attacking department that has been present in recent seasons. He has been a goal-scoring machine, propelling the team to the top of the La Liga standings.
3. Haaland
Norway's failure to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup may have hampered Erling Haaland's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or in 2023, but he is making a strong case for himself in the domestic competition.
Haaland is a prolific scorer who has made an impact in the Premier League this season. The 22-year-old has already scored 31 goals and provided three assists in 27 appearances for Manchester City under Pep Guardiola.
If Haaland leads his team to a few major trophies this season, he may be in contention for the Ballon d'Or.
4. Mbappe
One must sympathize with Kylian Mbappe. Despite scoring a hat-trick in the World Cup final, his efforts were insufficient to secure France's victory. Mbappe's outstanding performance earned him the Golden Boot award, and he has continued to shine for Paris Saint-Germain.
Mbappe has been a dominant force for PSG this season, with 25 goals and 6 assists in 26 appearances across all competitions.
Although he is expected to win multiple major trophies this season, his chances of winning the prestigious Ballon d'Or award may be hampered by strong competition from his teammate, Lionel Messi.
5. Messi
Lionel Messi appears to be on track to win a record-breaking eighth Ballon d'Or. He led Argentina to World Cup victory and was deservedly named the tournament's best player, receiving the Golden Ball award. Messi's World Cup performance included seven goals and three assists.
This season, his form for Paris Saint-Germain has been nothing short of exceptional. Despite his age of 35, Messi has 14 goals and 14 assists in just 23 appearances across all competitions, solidifying his role as a key player for Coach Christopher Galtier's team.
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