Evening Standard
·30 October 2023
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·30 October 2023
Lionel Messi has been tipped to scoop an incredible eighth Ballon d'Or award tonight.
The glitzy annual ceremony takes place in Paris this evening, when the Argentine icon is expected to extend his record and claim football's most prestigious individual prize yet again at the Theatre du Chatelet after his World Cup-winning exploits in Qatar last winter.
Even Erling Haaland's remarkable 2022-23 campaign, one that saw him score 52 goals in just 53 matches and fire Manchester City to the Treble, is unlikely to be enough to deny Messi, who is already very much in a league of his own - boasting seven to great rival Cristiano Ronaldo's five - when it comes to the Ballon d'Or.
Six other City players join Haaland on the 30-man shortlist, with Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane the English representation.
The Ballon d'Or Feminin will also be awarded tonight, with Aitana Bonmati believed to be leading the race after a stellar season for Barcelona and Spain.
Alexia Putellas has won the award in each of the last two years, but an ACL injury ended her hopes of making it a hat-trick and she is not on the shortlist this time.
Mary Earps, Millie Bright, Rachel Daly and Georgia Stanway are the four English players nominated, after the Lionesses reached the World Cup final in the summer.
The winner will be crowned tonight on Monday October 30, 2023, at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.
The ceremony is due to begin at 8pm BST, though as ever there will be plenty of build-up and other awards to hand out.
Live stream: The ceremony will be broadcast live on French newspaper L’Equipe’s YouTube channel and website.
Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema won the Ballon d'Or for the first time last year
AFP via Getty Images
England goalkeeper Mary Earps is on the shortlist for the Ballon d'Or Feminin
AP
There is a 10-man shortlist for the Kopa Trophy, given to the best men’s under-21 player. Jude Bellingham is unsurprisingly nominated, along with Barcelona trio Gavi, Pedri and Alejandro Balde.
Jamal Musiala is also in the running, while Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund is the only Premier League player on the shortlist.
The Yashin Trophy will also be handed out to the best goalkeeper - last year's winner Thibaut Courtois is nominated again. So too are Aaron Ramsdale, Emi Martinez, Andre Onana and Ederson, but Liverpool's Alisson misses out this time.
Jude Bellingham is on the 10-man shortlist for the Kopa Trophy
AFP via Getty Images
Men's award
Lionel Messi - 1/25
Erling Haaland - 9/1
Jude Bellingham - 40/1
Rodri - 50/1
Kevin De Bruyne - 80/1
Kylian Mbappe - 80/1
Women's award
Aitana Bonmati - 1/5
Olga Carmona - 8/1
Mary Earps - 10/1
Sam Kerr - 16/1
Asisat Oshoala - 33/1