The final of the 2022/2023 European football season was marked by the UEFA Champions League final held in Istanbul.
This season proved to be physically demanding for all involved, as it featured a packed schedule, including a significant break for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
In a tightly contested match at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, a decisive goal came from Rodri of Manchester City.
His superb curling shot from inside the penalty area secured victory against Inter Milan, allowing Manchester City to achieve a historic treble.
Considering the significance of both the World Cup and the Champions League, it is evident that these tournaments will play a vital role in determining the recipient of the highly coveted individual accolade in football, the Ballon d’Or.
It is set to be a two-horse race for the 2023 award. Sports Brief takes a look at how the vote would possibly go later this year in October.
6. Ilkay Gundogan
Should we call him Mr. Clutch instead? Gundogan’s late bloom to win the Premier League and the FA Cup for Manchester City in his first season as captain has seen his odds rise immensely.
He is definitely bettered by De Bruyne and Haaland in his own team, but his 13 goals and seven goals – especially towards the end of the season – cannot go unmentioned.
He joins only a few captains to have captained their sides to winning a treble.
5. Vinicius Junior
It is a good thing the Ballon d’Or award does not account for only the kind of trophies won, but also individual performances as well.
The Real Madrid goal machine finished the season with the Copa Del Rey, the Club World Club, and the UEFA Super Cup.
He is the only player in Europe’s top 5 leagues to have scored at least 20 goals (24) and provided at least 20 assists (25) in all competitions, bar Lionel Messi.
4. Kylian Mbappe
If Messi will dominate this debate because of the World Cup, then his soon-to-be former teammate at Paris Saint-Germain, Kylian Mbappe deserves a shout as well – and with good reason.
The Frenchman was unlucky not to win the December 18 final at the Qatar World Cup despite a historic performance that saw him grab a hat-trick. He missed out on the trophy but won the Golden Boot.
He has also scored 53 goals and provided 14 assists this season in all competitions, on top of winning the Ligue 1.
3. Kevin De Bruyne
The Belgian heartbreakingly limped off in the UCL final – the second such time he has been forced off injured in the last game of a tournament.
However, he has been as instrumental as Haaland in defining City’s season, despite being off-colour in a couple of games this season.
The 31-year-old remains the most elite playmaker in Europe, having provided 32 assists in all competitions.
2. Lionel Messi
Captaining his country and starring at the World Cup at 35 years, finally winning the trophy that eluded him in his illustrious career, saw Messi complete a romantic football moment.
After the Qatar triumph, it looked like he was a stroll for his record eighth Ballon d’Or title, only for Haaland’s heroics in that Manchester City super team to turn a solid argument into a debate.
Apart from the World Cup, the Argentine has also scored 38 times and provided 25 assists in all competitions.
1. Erling Haaland
Between the Champions League and the World Cup, the latter understandably carries more weight. However, the Man City striker has closed the gap on the serial winner, Messi in recent months after the Qatar event.
The 22-year-old might have been silent in the UCL final, but his 53 goals across all competitions helped the Citizens complete the historic treble, with the crowning moment coming in Turkey on June 10.
The last time a player from the Premier League won the Ballon d’Or was Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008, after success in the UCL with Manchester United – an occurence Haaland has now replicated with Manchester City.
Could the Norwegian land his first Ballon d’Or at just 22 years of age – it seems so.
Other 2023 Ballon d’Or candidates
Meanwhile, Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s respective roles in Napoli’s title-winning season will surely hand them a place in the final top 10 places.
Lautaro Martinez did not play a big role in Argentina’s World Cup triumph but delivered in Inter Milan’s run to the Istanbul final and winning a domestic double.
His international teammate, Julian Alvarez, having won the treble with Man City plus the 2022 World Cup, will also feature among the top-ranked players.
Robert Lewandowski suffered an unfamiliar early exit from the Champions League this term but still won another Golden Boot award, this time in a different league.
Reigning holder, Karim Benzema failed to inspire another European success for Real Madrid, but his 31 goals before joining Al-Ittihad will put him in good standing.
The list of the nominees for this year’s Ballon d’Or awards will be announced on September 6, with the winners being announced at a gala in Paris on October 30.
Biggest Ballon d’Or robberies in history
It was also reported on the decision to hold the 2022 World Cup in the ‘weird’ month of December brought about unprecedented debate ahead of the 2023 Ballon d’Or race.