English Talents and Manchester City Dominate 2023 Ballon d’Or Shortlist
English Talents Shine: Ballon d’Or Shortlist Revealed with Strong Manchester City Presence
England’s rising stars Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and seasoned striker Harry Kane, along with seven Manchester City players, have secured their spots on the 30-man shortlist for the prestigious 2023 Ballon d’Or.
Among the nominees is Erling Haaland, the prolific scorer from Manchester City, one of the 12 Premier League players recognized. Lionel Messi, the legendary Argentinean, stands as the overwhelming favorite to secure his eighth Ballon d’Or, further solidifying his exceptional record after his triumph in the World Cup.
In a summer marked by noteworthy transfers, midfielder Bellingham made a move to Real Madrid, while striker Kane joined Bayern Munich.
The women’s Ballon d’Or nominations feature representatives from the triumphant Manchester City team, including record-breaking goal scorer Haaland, Kevin de Bruyne, Ruben Dias, World Cup champion Julian Alvarez, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, and Josko Gvardiol.
Although Croatia defender Gvardiol was not part of City last season, Ilkay Gundogan, now with Barcelona, made the cut for the shortlist.
Other Premier League contenders include Arsenal’s Saka and Martin Odegaard, Liverpool’s forward Mohamed Salah, Manchester United’s goalkeeper Andre Onana, and Aston Villa’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Two players who departed European clubs in the summer, Messi, now with Inter Miami following his stint at Paris St-Germain, and the current titleholder Karim Benzema, who left Real Madrid for Al-Ittihad, have also received nominations.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner playing for Al-Nassr, shockingly missed out on the nomination for the first time since 2003.
Bellingham, who recently joined Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund, is among the ten nominees for the prestigious Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best young player.
Rasmus Hojlund, the newly recruited Manchester United striker, has also gained recognition in this category.
In the race for the Yashin Trophy, honoring the world’s best goalkeeper, Arsenal and England’s Aaron Ramsdale represent the Premier League alongside Ederson from Manchester City and Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa, a World Cup winner with Argentina.
The complete list of Ballon d’Or nominees includes a talented lineup featuring players from various clubs and countries. It stands as a testament to the exceptional skill and talent that graces the world of football.
