Messi, Mbappe, Haaland, Osimhen nominated for Ballon d’Or

September 6, 2023

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Inter Miami striker Lionel Messi was among the nominees for the prestigious men’s Ballon d’Or trophy announced by organisers, France Football magazine on Wednesday.
Seven-time winner Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar last December, their first triumph since 1986.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, who won the UEFA award for the best men’s player on Thursday, and Paris St Germain forward Kylian Mbappe are also among the nominees.
Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas, who has won the women’s award for the past two years, was not nominated this year.
Also in the list is Nigerian Victor Osimhen who helped Napoli win the Italian League last season.
Chelsea duo Sam Kerr and Millie Bright were among the 30 female nominees, along with Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati, who helped Spain to World Cup glory last month.
Argentina legend Lionel Messi is the overwhelming favourite to win and extend his record to eight Ballons d’Or after winning the World Cup.
Midfielder Bellingham and striker Kane both moved clubs this summer to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively.
Treble-winning Manchester City are represented by record-breaking goal scorer Haaland, Kevin de Bruyne, Ruben Dias, World Cup winner Julian Alvarez, Bernardo Silva, Rodri and Josko Gvardiol.
Croatia defender Gvardiol was not at City last season but Ilkay Gundogan, now at Barcelona, was and he also makes the shortlist.
The other Premier League nominees are Arsenal’s Saka and Martin Odegaard, Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, Manchester United keeper Andre Onana and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
There are two players who left European clubs this summer – Messi, who joined Inter Miami from Paris St-Germain, and current holder Karim Benzema, who left Real Madrid for Al-Ittihad.
Five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr, was not nominated for the first time since 2003.
Bellingham, who joined Real from Borussia Dortmund this summer, is one of 10 nominees for the best young player award, the Kopa Trophy.
New Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund is also nominated.
Arsenal and England’s Aaron Ramsdale is one of four Premier League goalkeepers on the 10-man shortlist for the Yashin Trophy, for the world’s best keeper.
Onana, Manchester City’s Ederson and Aston Villa’s Martinez, a World Cup winner with Argentina, are the others.

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)