The 67th edition of the Ballon d’or took place on Monday at the Châtelet theater in Paris.
The more the years pass, the less suspense there is. As expected, Lionel Messi received the 8th Ballon d’Or of his career. Among the women, the Spaniard Aitana Bonmati succeeded her compatriot and double title holder Alexia Putellas. Kopa Trophy, Socrates Prize, Yachine Trophy, Müller Trophy and Club of the Year Prize… Franceinfo: sport brings you the winners of this 2023 edition.
Men’s Golden Ball: Lionel Messi
We expected it since he (finally) won the World Cup in December 2022, under the nose of the France team. Lionel Messi was honored for the 8th time in his career with the most prestigious individual award in football. He now has three more trophies than his rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who was not included among the 30 nominees.
The 100 voters (one journalist from each of the 100 best-placed nations in the Fifa rankings) chose the Argentinian rather than the Norwegian Erling Haaland, head of Manchester City, crowned best club of the season thanks to a historic hat-trick: Champions League – Premier League – FA Cup. Kylian Mbappé completes the podium and signs his best ranking for the Ballon d’Or. The three other French people are ranked outside the Top 10: defending champion Karim Benzema (16th), Antoine Griezmann (21st), Randal Kolo Muani (28th).
Women’s Golden Ball: Aitana Bonmati
She ticked all the boxes on the new Ballon d’Or scale. World champion with Spain, winner of the Champions League with FC Barcelona (the crowned women’s club of the season), Aitana Bonmati could not do better in terms of collective achievements. Agile, technical and blessed with great game intelligence, she never goes unnoticed on the field. This small-sized midfielder (1m62, 50kg) was directly involved in 42 goals in 46 matches in all competitions (club + selection) in 2022-2023.
Decisive passer in the C1 final, on the goal allowing Barça to equalize against Wolfsburg, and already named best player of the World Cup, her individual performances clearly presented a “decisive and impressive character”. Still according to the Ballon d’or scale, “class” And “fair play” are one more argument. The 25-year-old took a public stand to defend her teammate Jennifer Hermoso, who was forcefully embraced by the president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales. “We cannot allow the abuse of power in a working relationship, nor the lack of respect. Jenni (Hermoso) and all the women who suffer from the same thing, we are with you”she declared at the end of August, when receiving her UEFA Player of the Year award.
Best Frenchwoman in the ranking, Kadidiatou Diani is 14th. Wendie Renard finished 26th.
Kopa Trophy: Jude Bellingham
The best player under the age of 21 for the 2022-2023 season is Jude Bellingham. The Englishman succeeds the Spaniard Gavi. The mid-20s were crowned thanks to a different method than the two Ballons d’Or. The Kopa Trophy is the result of a vote by former Ballon d’Or winners based on a list of ten names chosen by France Football.
Coming very close to the Bundesliga title with Borussia Dortmund, he was the strong man of the England team at the World Cup despite his very young age. It is possible that his stratospheric performances since his arrival at Real Madrid this season, supposed not to be taken into account, have supported his candidacy a little more.
Yachine Trophy: Emiliano Martinez
Author of an exceptional 2022 World Cup, notably in the final against France, Argentinian Emiliano Martinez was named best goalkeeper of the season. Which earned him a few whistles when he went on stage and when watching his decisive save on Randal Kolo Muani’s shot in overtime. He succeeds Thibaut Courtois on the list.
Gerd Müller Trophy: Erling Haaland
Beaten in the main category, the 23-year-old Norwegian did not leave empty-handed. Author of 56 goals in 57 matches, club and country combined, he received the Gerd Müller prize which rewards the top scorer of the past season. This is three goals more than Kylian Mbappé (54) for the one who broke the record for goals in a Premier League season (35 with Manchester City), when he had just arrived in the English championship.
Socrates Prize: Vinicius Junior
The Brazilian Vinicius Junior was rewarded for his commitment to underprivileged children in Brazil. His foundation, the Instituto Vini Jr, “uses technology as a tool through the Base application and football as a language to teach content”justifies The Team, organizer of the Ballon d’or. The Real Madrid striker, who was targeted by racist insults in Spain, took the opportunity to send a message alongside ex-Ivorian star Didier Drogba: “We must continue the fight.”.