Ballon d'Or 2023: Who are the favorites?

Ballon d'Or 2023: Messi the favorite, but Mbappe and Haaland loom large

The Ballon d'Or is one of the most prestigious awards in all of sports, and the 2023 edition is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent years. Lionel Messi is the favorite to win the award for a record eighth time, but Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are both hot on his heels.

Ballon d'Or 2023: Messi the favorite, but Mbappe and Haaland loom large

Messi enjoyed a stellar 2023 season, helping Paris Saint-Germain win the Ligue 1 title and leading Argentina to the World Cup title. He was named the player of the tournament at the World Cup, and he also won the Golden Boot award for scoring the most goals.

Mbappe had another outstanding season for PSG, scoring 45 goals in all competitions. He also helped France reach the final of the World Cup, where they lost to Argentina on penalties.

Haaland had a sensational season for Borussia Dortmund, scoring 50 goals in all competitions. He helped Dortmund win the DFB-Pokal, and he was also named the Bundesliga Player of the Season.

In addition to Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland, there are a number of other players who could challenge for the Ballon d'Or this year. These include Robert Lewandowski, Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah, and Karim Benzema.

Here is a look at the top contenders for the 2023 Ballon d'Or:

Lionel Messi

Messi is the clear favorite to win the Ballon d'Or this year. He had an incredible season, helping both PSG and Argentina win major trophies. He was also named the player of the tournament at the World Cup, which is a huge boost to his chances of winning the award.

Kylian Mbappe

Mbappe is another strong contender for the Ballon d'Or. He had another outstanding season for PSG, scoring 45 goals in all competitions. He also helped France reach the final of the World Cup, where they lost to Argentina on penalties.

Erling Haaland

Haaland is the third favorite to win the Ballon d'Or this year. He had a sensational season for Borussia Dortmund, scoring 50 goals in all competitions. He helped Dortmund win the DFB-Pokal, and he was also named the Bundesliga Player of the Season.

Robert Lewandowski

Lewandowski is another strong contender for the Ballon d'Or. He had another prolific season for Bayern Munich, scoring 50 goals in all competitions. He helped Bayern win the Bundesliga title, and he was also named the Bundesliga Player of the Season for the second year in a row.

Kevin De Bruyne

De Bruyne is one of the best midfielders in the world, and he had another excellent season for Manchester City. He helped City win the Premier League title and reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

Mohamed Salah

Salah is one of the most dangerous attackers in the world, and he had another outstanding season for Liverpool. He helped Liverpool win the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, and he also finished as the Premier League's top scorer with 23 goals.

Karim Benzema

Benzema is enjoying a late-career renaissance, and he had another excellent season for Real Madrid. He helped Madrid win the La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League, and he was also named the UEFA Men's Player of the Year.

Who will win the 2023 Ballon d'Or?

It is difficult to say who will win the 2023 Ballon d'Or, but Messi is the clear favorite. He had an incredible season, winning major trophies with both PSG and Argentina. He was also named the player of the tournament at the World Cup, which is a huge boost to his chances of winning the award.

However, Mbappe and Haaland are both hot on Messi's heels. They are both world-class players who are capable of winning the Ballon d'Or in the future.

Ultimately, the winner of the 2023 Ballon d'Or will be decided by a panel of journalists from around the world. They will take into account a number of factors, including individual performances, team success, and overall impact on the game.

Here are some other players who could challenge for the 2023 Ballon d'Or:

• Sadio Mane
• Trent Alexander-Arnold
• Virgil van Dijk
• Luka Modric
• Toni Kroos
• Bernardo Silva
• Neymar
• Lionel Scaloni (Argentina manager)
• Didier Deschamps (France manager)
• Pep Guardiola (Manchester City manager)
• Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid manager)

It is going to be an exciting Ballon d'Or race this year, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.