Lionel Messi’s record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or success came as a surprise to absolutely nobody in the footballing world.
The legendary Argentine had led his country to the 2022 World Cup after all, where he arguably cemented his place as the greatest footballer to have ever played the game.
Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe were his nearest challengers in 2023, both enjoying exceptional years of their own. Haaland scored 54 goals in all competitions during the eligibility period, while Mbappe led France to back-to-back appearances in the World Cup final, sensationally scoring a hat-trick against Argentina (albeit in an eventual losing effort) to scoop the Golden Boot.
All three are expected to be in contention once more in 2024, despite Messi’s move to Inter Miami at club level, but there’s plenty of other players who may feel they are in with a chance of being crowned the best player in the world.
Here’s 90min’s favourites for the award.
Lionel Messi won the 2023 Ballon d’Or – his eighth / Megan Briggs/GettyImages
Robert Lewandowski keeps scoring important goals / Alex Caparros/GettyImages
Bukayo Saka is one of England’s finest prospects / Visionhaus/GettyImages
Bernardo Silva keeps everything ticking for the champions / Visionhaus/GettyImages
Cristiano Ronaldo is shining in Saudi Arabia / Khalid Alhaj/MB Media/GettyImages
Lautaro Martinez is doing great things in Italy / Jonathan Moscrop/GettyImages
There are few better than Vinicius Junior / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages
Julian Alvarez is shining for Manchester City / Eurasia Sport Images/GettyImages
Antoine Griezmann is back at his absolute best / Denis Doyle/GettyImages
Salah celebrates yet another Liverpool goal / James Gill – Danehouse/GettyImages
Rodri after Manchester City’s fifth trophy win of 2023 / Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/GettyImages
Erling Haaland is a goal machine / Francois Nel/GettyImages
Harry Kane is destroying the Bundesliga / Marvin Ibo Guengoer – GES Sportfoto/GettyImages
Is there anything Kylian Mbappe can’t do? / Ralf Ibing – firo sportphoto/GettyImages
Jude Bellingham is the hot favourite currently / Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/GettyImages
READ THE 2023 BALLON D’OR RANKINGS IN FULL & OTHER AWARD WINS
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