The finalists for the 2023 Ballon d'Or awards have been unveiled, showcasing a mix of footballing legends and emerging talents. The ceremony, set to take place at the London Palladium Theater on October 26, highlights the dominance of Paris Saint-Germain and Spain, recent champions of the Champions League and the World Cup respectively.

Lionel Messi, nominated once again, aims to secure his ninth Ballon d'Or following a stellar season with Inter Miami and a strong performance as a runner-up with Argentina in the World Cup. Alongside him, Harry Kane of Bayern Munich represents the elite in the men's category.

Key Nominees:

• Ballon d'Or Finalists (Men's):

  • Lionel Messi (Inter Miami/Argentina)
  • Harry Kane (Bayern Munich/England)
  • Erling Haaland (Manchester City/Norway)
  • Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid/France)
  • Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/England)

• Ballon d'Or Finalists (Women's):

  • Rose Lavelle (United States)
  • Other notable nominees include players from Barcelona and OL Lyonnes.

Additional Awards:

• Young Talent of the Year:

  • Notable nominees include Lamine Yamal (Barcelona/Spain) and Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain/France).

• Goalkeeper of the Year:

  • Candidates include Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid/Belgium) and Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal/Morocco).

The nominations reflect a competitive year, with only Rose Lavelle and Lily Yohannes representing the United States among the nominees. As anticipation builds for the awards night, the footballing world awaits to see who will take home the prestigious honors.