THE Ballon d'Or awards are here – and Lionel Messi will battle it out with Erling Haaland for the most prestigious individual award in football.
The Argentine won the World Cup in Qatar and is the overwhelming favourite to take the trophy for the eighth time in his career.
BALLON D'OR AWARDS LIVE
Erling Haaland is also a serious contender after scoring 52 goals in 53 games in all competitions in the 2022/23 season and the forward won the Treble with Manchester City last campaign.
The Norwegian is joined by fellow Cityzens Josko Gvardiol, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Julian Alvarez.
Other Premier League nominees include Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard and Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
BALLON D'OR 2023
Odegaard and Ruben Dias find out their places as countdown BEGINS
I'M THE REAL DEAL
My dad is a Ballon d'Or winner but I left Real Madrid to make my own way
England skipper Harry Kane is also in contention as is Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham.
Ballon d'Or 2023 full results
30th – Ruben Dias
28th – Randal Kolo Muani
28th – Martin Odegaard
Most read in Football
BECKS BLAST
Rebecca Loos tells Beckham to ‘be honest’ & blasts Netflix doc as ‘rehearsed’
DRINK UP
Drinkwater RETIRES at 33 after ‘being in limbo too long’ following Chelsea release
HE’S DONE FER
Furious Keane tells Ten Hag to STRIP Fernandes of captaincy after City loss
RIP LEGEND
Villa lead tributes as club record appearance maker Charlie Aitken dies aged 81
27th – Nicolo Barella
26th – Jamal Musiala
25th – Josko Gvardiol
24th – Bukayo Saka
23rd – Andre Onana
22nd – Kim Min-Jae
21st – Antoine Griezmann
20th – Lautaro Martinez
19th – Harry Kane
18th – Jude Bellingham
17th – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
16th – Karim Benzema
Full results to follow throughout the evening…
Read More on The Sun
EYE OPENING
People are stunned when they see my pierced eye – then I tell them the truth
Window pain
Woman only realises she's flashed a school playground when she gets a NOTE
Who has won the most Ballon d'Or awards?
Here is a list of all the multiple-time Ballon d'Or winners:
- Lionel Messi – 7: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021
- Cristiano Ronaldo – 5: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
- Michel Platini – 3: 1983, 1984, 1985
- Johan Cruyff – 3: 1971, 1971, 1974
- Marco van Basten – 3: 1988, 1989, 1992
- Franz Beckenbauer – 2: 1972, 1976
- Ronaldo – 2: 1997, 2002
- Alfredo Di Stefano – 2: 1957, 1959
- Kevin Keegan – 2: 1978, 1979
- Karl-Heinz Rummenigge – 2: 1980, 1981
Source: Read Full Article