The Ballon d’Or awards ceremony takes place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris this evening when football’s most prestigious prize is presented to the best footballer from the 2022/23 season.
Lionel Messi, the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or, is the most decorated winner of all time with seven triumphs to his name. His heroics in helping Argentina win the World Cup mean Messi looks likely to extend his record with an eighth win but he faces competition from Manchester City’s Erling Haaland who had a record-breaking season of his own and PSG’s Kylian Mbappe after he won Ligue 1 and played a huge part in taking France to the World Cup final.
The women’s award, the Ballon d’Or Féminin, will also be handed out this evening. Spain’s Aitana Bonmati is the favourite to succeed Alexia Putellas as the award winner after leading Spain to their Women’s World Cup triumph and Barcelona to the Women’s Champions League but there may be some surprises in store at the ceremony.
Follow along for the latest updates from the Ballon d’Or awards in Paris with our liveblog below:
Ballon d’Or awards LIVE
And continuing the same way, the next three for the men. Two from Man City in this group.
Karl Matchett30 October 2023 21:00
Ballon d’Or awards LIVE
On we go with the next rankings for the big awards and another Lioness in the reveal – goalkeeper Mary Earps takes fifth.
Karl Matchett30 October 2023 20:57
Ballon d’Or awards LIVE
Manchester City are given the nod as Club of the Year in the men’s game, somewhat unsurprisingly. They won the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
Seven Ballon d’Or nominees are here tonight so they are all up on stage along with some club suits to receive the award.
“We are very proud, we enjoyed a really good season. But we all know this is not the product of one season, it’s more than a decade of hard work,” said Ferran Soriano.
Karl Matchett30 October 2023 20:52
Ballon d’Or awards LIVE
Haaland is asked his thoughts on the noble art of plundering goals and leaving defences downhearted.
“If I’m giving advice it’s to stay hungry, especially as a striker. Be ready and be in the moment, stay sharp and want to score, want to have this feeling as I had quite a few times last season. It’s as easy as that – chase this feeling!”
Lineker gives his assessment on the massive Norwegian:
“His movement is so good, his anticipation. Goalscoring is like mathematics. It’s formula not instinct: make runs into space where you think you can score if the ball goes there. It’s the law of probability and he does it better than anyone else at the moment.”
Karl Matchett30 October 2023 20:49
Ballon d’Or awards LIVE
Gerd Muller trophy next..no prizes for guessing who top scored for club and country!
Lewandowski in fifth with 36 goals. Messi fourth hit 38. Kane managed 40 to take third.
Mbappe scored a whopping 54, he’s second.
Erling Haaland with a thoroughly ridiculous 56 goals!
“Thanks to Man City for making myself every single day, the staff and Pep. I always want to thank my family and people around me for making me who I am today,” he said. We now get to watch every single one of those strikes in a video montage.
Karl Matchett30 October 2023 20:42
Ballon d’Or awards LIVE
Gary Lineker is on stage now to present the Gerd Muller award, the one handed to the year’s biggest goal machine.
“Football has evolved a lot. I personally think it’s better and better, the competition is better and there are so many incredible players who are a credit to the game. I’m proud of young players speaking up about important issues. The game on the field is in good shape,” our Match of the Day face says.
Karl Matchett30 October 2023 20:38
Ballon d’Or awards LIVE
“French people still think about every day – was it the save of your life?” Drogba asks the stopper. He does begin to respond but boos interrupt him – Drogba has to silence a few in the crowd jeering while Martinez is talking, saying sporting respect must be shown.
That gets a few bits of applause. Honestly, it’s not Uefa you know!
Karl Matchett30 October 2023 20:35
Ballon d’Or awards LIVE
Time for the best goalkeeper to step forward and claim their award. And not drop it, obviously.
Ederson, Bounou, Martinez, Courtois or Ter Stegen?
Drogba announces Martinez as the winner! A few cheers as he takes to the stage. Alberto Martinez comes on stage too, Emi’s father, to hand over the award.
Karl Matchett30 October 2023 20:31
Ballon d’Or awards LIVE
A full run-down of the Feminin nominees from 30 through to the top ten…well, we know to eighth already so here you go.
- 8 Guijarro, Spain
- 9 Caicedo, Colombia
- 10 Daly, England
- 11 Bright, England
- 12 Miyazawa, Japan
- 13 Oberdorf, Germany
- 14 Diani, France
- 15 Ilestedt, Sweden
- 16 Leon, Spain
- 17 Raso, Australia
- 18 Pajor, Poland
- 19 Reiten, Norway
- 20 Oshoala, Nigeria
- 21 Redondo, Spain
- 22 McCabe, Ireland
- 23 Stanway, England
- 24 Shaw, Jamaica
- 25 Smith, USA
- 26 Renard, France
- 27 Hasegawa, Japan
- 28 Debinha, Brazil
- 29 Roord, Netherlands
- 30 Van Domselaar, Netherland
Karl Matchett30 October 2023 20:27
Ballon d’Or awards LIVE
Club president Joan Laporta recieves the award for Club of the Year, for the achievements of the women’s team across 2022/23.
FCB Femeni won the Liga F in Spain, the Supercopa de Espana and the Champions League. In league play they lost only once across 30 matches, winning a wild 28 of them.
It’s their Champions League final comeback which stands out though, 2-0 down after 37 minutes to Wolfsburg before before roaring back to win 3-2.
Karl Matchett30 October 2023 20:19