Argentina World cup champion Lionel Messi is set to be announced as the winner of the 2023 Ballon D’or set for 30th October,this is according to reports.
Messi is a candidate for this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or for being champion of Ligue 1 with PSG, for winning the Leagues Cup with his new team, Inter Miami, and especially for having won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Argentine was crowned in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021.
On five occasions he was second (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017) and, on one occasion, third (2007)
With the win he will go down in history as the only person to have won the Ballon D’or while playing outside Europe not forgetting that he will have three more golden balls to his name more than his arch rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
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The Argentine is among a list of other players who are eye the coveted title issued annually by a French magazine.
Ballon d’Or nominees
Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City, Croatia)
Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich, Germany)
Andre Onana (Manchester United, Cameroon)
Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad, France)
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Egypt)
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal, England)
Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium)
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)
Randal Kolo Muani (Paris St-Germain, France)
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City, Portugal)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli, Georgia)
Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan, Italy)
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, Argentina)
Ruben Dias (Manchester City, Portugal)
Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
Martin Odegaard (Arsenal, Norway)
Ilkay Gundogan (Barcelona, Germany)
Yassine Bounou (Sevilla, Morocco)
Julian Alvarez (Manchester City, Argentina)
Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid, Brazil)
Rodri (Manchester City, Spain)
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid, France)
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina)
Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan, Argentina)
Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona, Poland)
Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich, South Korea)
Luka Modric (Real Madrid, Croatia)
Kylian Mbappe (Paris St-Germain, France)
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)
