With Messi among the favorites: check out the list of 20 candidates fighting to win the Ballon d’Or

This Monday the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris will host a new Ballon d’Or award ceremony , an event that brings together all football fans around the world in search of the best player in the specialty of the season. Although, once again, the main name that resonates to receive the award is Lionel Messi .

The Argentine striker remains one of the favorites to win the trophy, having already done so seven times. The great performance achieved during the 2022-23 season, especially with his team during the World Cup in Qatar, where he ended up shouting champion, is one of his main cards to be selected as the best again. .

In December last year, Lionel Messi won the World Cup, one of the last trophies he needed to expand his record, in a competition that appears to have been the last he was able to attend due to of age issues, although the number 10 It did not completely close the possibility and even the Albiceleste coach, Lionel Scaloni, made it clear that he had earned the right to participate in the event of obtaining of an almost certain classification.

If Lionel Messi wins the Ballon d’Or, it would be his eighth award since 2009, when he first won the award. Since that moment, he has mentioned it in the editions of 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021 almost without discussion, with the exception of what was done in 2021 when he had to share the merits with the Polish Robert Lewandowski. .

In addition, he would thus have the possibility of extending the advantage he has with Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been the protagonist on five occasions (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017). Already further back, with three, are Michel Platini, Marco van Basten and Johan Cruyff.

To reinforce Messi’s merits, some data. The Argentinian was one of the great figures of the Qatar 2022 World Cup where he received the tournament’s Golden Ball to which he added the Silver Shoe after scoring seven goals and providing three assists in seven matches played. Leo ended up scoring in the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and in the epic final against France.

And as for the current season, Lionel Messi is preparing to face a tour of Asia with Inter Miami. Then he will face another double qualifying date for the 2026 World Cup and take a brief vacation before returning to pre-season with Inter where he will have to navigate a new fight for the MLS, Concachampions and prepare for the Copa América. in the United States in 2024.

Although Leo stood out at the World Cup, there is another player who has excelled in Europe, having a brilliant year. Norwegian Erling Haaland has had a brilliant season, scoring 52 goals in 53 games, many of which were instrumental in winning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup with Manchester City. .

The other favorites for the Ballon d’Or are Kylian Mbappé, Mohamed Salah or Vinicius Jr. but, in case one of them succeeds, it would be surprising if Messi or Haaland do not win it.

The Ballon d’Or gala will take place this Monday, October 30 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris from 3:00 p.m. in Chile.

• Julien Alvarez
• Nicolas Barella
• Jude Bellingham
• Karim Benzema
• Yassine Bono
• Kevin De Bruyne
• Rubén Dias
• Antoine Griezmann
• Ilkay Gundogan
• Josko Gvardiol
• Erling Haaland
• Harry Kane
• Kim Min Jae
• Randal Kolo Muani
• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
• Robert Lewandowski
• Emiliano Martinez
• Lautaro Martinez
• Kylian Mbappé
• Lionel Messi
• Luka Modric
• Jamal Musiala
• Martin Odegaard
• André Onana
• Victor Osimhen
• Rodri
• Bukayo Saka
• Mohamed Salah
• Bernard Silva
• Vinicius Jr.