Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmati are players who have won the prestigious individual award in 2023, but this season there are many players who are Ballon d’Or candidates for their first.
The 68th Golden Ball Awards ceremony will take place on October 28 in Paris. A big change that took place this year was that UEFA co-hosted the event with French media company Groupe Amaury, after previously being introduced by France Football.
Groupe Amaury – the owners of France Football – have now agreed to take on a leadership role and cooperate with European football’s governing body. In addition to the Golden Ball awards for men and women, the ceremony also had the presence of players who won the Kopa Trophy (best player under 21 years old), Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper), Gerd Muller Trophy (top scorer in the English league), Men’s Club Cup of the Year and Women’s Club Cup of the Year.
Meanwhile, a series of the tournament’s top male and female coaches will hope to win two new awards that have been added to the honors list – male coach of the year and female coach of the year. The official nomination list of Golden Ball candidates will be announced on September 4, and currently the 5 most valuable male player names have been revealed, without Messi and Ronaldo – the two names that won 13. Golden Ball.
Vinicius
The Brazilian has enjoyed an excellent campaign, after winning his second UEFA Champions League title and third La Liga crown. Despite a slow start to the season due to injury, Vinicius scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists in 39 appearances in all competitions for Real Madrid, enhancing his reputation as one of the best players. best shot. There is still time for the 23-year-old to achieve more glory this year as he begins participating in the Copa America with Brazil this summer.
Bellingham
Bellingham’s value continues to rise after a phenomenal first year at Real Madrid, which has won the La Liga and Champions League double, along with the Spanish Super Cup. The 20-year-old has scored 23 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions, including five goals in his first four matches in Spain’s top flight.
His two stoppage-time goals in El Clasico against Barcelona were among the main highlights of an excellent campaign and Bellingham will also be hoping for more European glory with England this summer.
Phil Foden
The Englishman has just added to his already cumbersome trophy cabinet with a sixth Premier League winners’ medal at Manchester City. Unfortunately, Champions League glory has eluded the 24-year-old player, but he is still a strong Golden Ball candidate.
Foden’s double on the final day of the season against West Ham United helped City win an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title, and like Bellingham, he will be aiming to be crowned Euro 2024 champions in July 14.
Mbappe
The endless speculation surrounding Kylian Mbappe over a move to the Bernabeu has finally come to an end, and the striker is on his way to winning his first Ballon d’Or. The 25-year-old ended his sublime spell at Paris Saint-Germain after winning his third consecutive Ligue 1 title, but is yet to win the UEFA Champions League title he so desperately craves.
Harry Kane
The England captain emerged in Germany like a fish to water, with 44 goals in 45 matches in all competitions for Bayern Munich. However, the championship continues to elude the 30-year-old as Bayer Leverkusen ended the Bavarian team’s 11-season monopoly on the Bundesliga throne. Leading the Three Lions to their first major trophy in 58 years could be the iconic moment Kane needs to receive the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.
