Manchester City Dominance:
- Manchester City, having secured a remarkable treble, unsurprisingly boasts several representatives on the 30-man shortlist.
- Erling Haaland, the Norwegian sensation, is a frontrunner for the award, with fans and experts alike tipping him as a favorite.
- Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri are also expected to feature prominently in the rankings.
- Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, and Julian Alvarez round out the City players in contention.
- The treble-winning captain Ilkay Gundogan, who has since moved to Barcelona, represents the blue side of Manchester as well.
Manchester United’s Sole Nominee:
- In contrast, Manchester United has just one nominee, Andre Onana. The goalkeeper earned his place on the list through his stellar performances during Inter Milan’s run to the Champions League final.
- Some were surprised to see Marcus Rashford omitted from the list, despite his impressive tally of 30 goals in the 2022/23 season.
Arsenal and Liverpool Standouts:
- The Ballon d’Or, now recognizing the best individual player over the past season, includes two Arsenal players: Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
- Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s talisman, and Emiliano Martinez, recognized in part for his World Cup performances, have also been nominated.
- The legendary Lionel Messi, now with Paris Saint-Germain and also a part of Inter Miami, is part of the 30-man shortlist, vying for an eighth Ballon d’Or of his illustrious career.
- Notably, Cristiano Ronaldo, a long-time rival, is absent from the shortlist for the first time in two decades.
The Full List of Nominees for the 2023 Ballon d’Or:
- The extensive list of nominees includes a mix of talents from various clubs, showcasing the depth of footballing excellence:
- [List of nominees follows…]
As football fans eagerly await the outcome, the 2023 Ballon d’Or promises to be a closely watched event, with contenders from across Europe aiming to claim the prestigious individual accolade.