The 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony is set to take place in Paris on October 30, with Lionel Messi as one of the favorites for the prestigious award. Despite initial reports from Sport declaring Messi as the winner, the publication has since deleted the post, and France Football editor Vincent Garcia has claimed that the vote is “very, very close.”
Messi’s strong case for winning his eighth Ballon d’Or revolves around his performances at the Qatar 2022 World Cup. He led Argentina to their third world title, scoring seven goals and providing three assists, including a brace in the final. Messi displayed incredible skill and a sense of destiny throughout the tournament, shining alongside his teammates.
It’s important to note that the judging period for the 2023 award is the 2022/23 season, meaning Messi’s performance for Inter Miami should not heavily influence the final decision. In his last season at Paris Saint-Germain, Messi scored 16 goals and assisted 16 goals, contributing to the team’s Ligue 1 title win. In total, he scored 21 goals and provided 20 assists in 41 appearances, including impressive performances in the Champions League.
Another strong contender for the award is Erling Haaland, who had a remarkable season with Manchester City. Haaland scored 52 goals in 53 appearances across all competitions and played a crucial role in City’s treble-winning campaign. His 36 goals in the Premier League alone broke the single-season record. Additionally, he topped the Champions League scoring charts with 12 goals, including an incredible five-goal performance in a match against RB Leipzig.
While Haaland’s overall performances overshadow Messi’s numbers, the Ballon d’Or is not solely based on statistics. Narrative moments and big performances in finals hold significant weight in the media-voted award. Haaland’s relatively peripheral role in the FA Cup and Champions League finals, where other players like Ilkay Gundogan and Rodri shone, may impact his chances.
Kylian Mbappe, Messi’s former teammate at PSG, also had an impressive season, scoring 41 goals in 40 starts. His standout moment came in the World Cup final, where he scored a hat-trick. If France had won the penalty shootout, Mbappe’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or would have been stronger. However, he is expected to come in third behind Messi and Haaland, possibly even closer in the ballot to Manchester City’s Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne.
As the anticipation builds for the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony, the race for the prestigious award remains highly competitive. With Messi, Haaland, and Mbappe showcasing their exceptional skills and achievements, the final outcome is still uncertain.
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