2023 Ballon D'or: Who can stop Messi from winning an eighth trophy

IKEJA, Nigeria - Oct. 19, 2023 - PRLog -- Lionel Messi is a record seven-time winner of the Ballon d'Or trophy for the world's best footballer but former Real Madrid and France striker Karim Benzema has hold of the Golden Ball. Can Messi wrestle it back or will one of Manchester City's Treble winners cause a shock at a ceremony? England's Jude Bellingham also aims to make history by taking home silverware. We also look at the latest odds. Lionel Andrés Messi, also known as Leo Messi, is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both Major League Soccer Club Inter Miami and the Argentina national team.

Lionel Messi is the runaway favourite to claim his eighth Ballon d'Or when the trophy for the world's best footballer is awarded for 2023. The 36-year-old led Argentina to World Cup glory in December for the first time since 1986. The Ballon d'Or 2023 ceremony will be held at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Monday, October 30. Thirty players feature on the shortlist, but is it really worth any of them turning up with Messi thought to be nailed on to pick up the Golden Ball once more?

Surely Messi's closest rival for the trophy is Erling Haaland - and the bookies seem to think so too, with the Manchester City striker second-favourite to land the Ballon d'Or. The Norwegian forward was lethal in 2022/23, scoring 52 goals in 53 games in all competitions, as Pep Guardiola's side swept up Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup trophies. Erling Haaland has already added to his personal trophy collection after winning UEFA's player of the year award.

Bagging the sixth Ballon d'Or nomination of his career came on the back of Mbappe scoring 54 goals in 56 matches for club and country last season. Despite seemingly permanent confusion surrounding his future at Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe won the Ligue 1 title and finished top scorer in France's top division. A hat-trick in the final of the World Cup earned Mbappe the tournament's Golden Boot, pipping Messi to the award with eight goals and two assists in Qatar. But, of course, it was Messi who lifted the main prize.

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