Nigeria rejoices as Victor Osimhen secures a historic Ballon d’Or nomination, ending a 24-year hiatus for the nation since its last representation in 1999. Notably, Nigeria emerges as the first African country with both male and female Ballon d’Or nominees, with Asisat Oshoala earning her second consecutive nod.
Osimhen’s nomination is richly deserved, a testament to his exceptional goal-scoring prowess. He netted an impressive 33 goals and provided five assists during the evaluation period, clinching the Capocannoniere title and leading his team to Serie A victory.In the realm of football luminaries, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland headline the 30-player roster of Ballon d’Or contenders for 2023, as unveiled by France Football magazine. Messi’s nomination marks his comeback after missing the shortlist last year. A potential eighth Ballon d’Or win for him would place him just behind Cristiano Ronaldo, who boasts five titles. Additionally, Messi secured the Best FIFA Men’s Player award for the second time this year.
In a surprising development, Cristiano Ronaldo, now with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, finds himself excluded from the shortlist for the first time since 2003.
Messi’s year has been filled with highs and lows, notably guiding Argentina to a World Cup triumph in December, a career-defining achievement. At the club level, Messi navigated challenges at Paris Saint-Germain before making a significant impact at Inter Miami, securing titles such as the Leagues Cup and securing a U.S. Open Cup final spot.
Meanwhile, Erling Haaland, with a staggering 52 goals in 53 games across competitions, emerges as a formidable rival in Messi’s pursuit of the Ballon d’Or. His prolific contributions were instrumental in Manchester City’s Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League victories, earning him accolades like PFA Player of the Year, Premier League’s Player of the Season, and Football Writers’ Association’s Men’s Player of the Year.
This year’s nominee list is predominantly populated by Manchester City and Argentine players, reflecting their pivotal roles in securing titles, including the World Cup. These nominations underscore the extraordinary talent and accomplishments shaping the global football landscape.
The eagerly anticipated announcement of the Ballon d’Or recipient is slated for October 30th at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.
Full list of men’s Ballon d’Or nominees:
André Onana – Manchester United/Cameroon
Josko Gvardiol – Manchester City/Croatia
Karim Benzema – Al Ittihad
Jamal Musiala – Bayern Munich/Germany
Mohamed Salah – Liverpool/Egypt
Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid/England
Bukayo Saka – Arsenal/England
Randal Kolo Muani – Paris Saint-Germain/France
Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City/Belgium
Bernardo Silva – Manchester City/Portugal
Emiliano Martínez – Aston Villa/Argentina
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – Napoli/Georgia
Rúben Dias – Manchester City/Portugal
Nicolo Barella – Inter Milan/Italy
Erling Haaland – Manchester City/Norway
Yassine Bounou – Al Hilal/Morocco
Martin Ødegaard – Arsenal/Norway
Julián Álvarez – Manchester City/Argentina
Ilkay Gündogan – Barcelona/Germany
Vinícius Júnior – Real Madrid/Brazil
Lionel Messi – Inter Miami/Argentina
Rodri – Manchester City/Spain
Lautaro Martínez – Inter Milan/Argentina
Antoine Griezmann – Atletico Madrid/France
Robert Lewandowski – Barcelona/Poland
Kylian Mbappé – Paris Saint-Germain/France
Kim Min-jae – Napoli/South Korea
Victor Osimhen – Napoli/Nigeria
Luka Modric – Real Madrid/Croatia
Harry Kane – Bayern Munich/England
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