Ladies and gentlemen, what a season we’ve had in the world of football! With the exception of a few international clashes, the curtains have fallen on the thrilling 2022/23 campaign. What was your favourite moment? Argentina winning the World Cup? City finally winning the Champions League and completing a treble? PSG failing once again? Italian teams almost looking competitive? Last season had it all and we start thinking about the stars of the season – and you know what that means, folks? It’s time for the race towards the prestigious 2023 Ballon d’Or!
Now, before we get all excited, let me tell you that the winner of this illustrious award will be revealed to the world on October 30th. That’s a few months away, kinda making a mockery of it being called the 2023 award (let’s pretend that Messi finds MLS is a level above what he has left in the tank) but that won’t stop us from speculating and putting our bets on the line and guess what? You should……..bet on the Ballon d’Or with the best football betting sites. So, without further ado, I present to you our top 20 favourites to clinch the 2023 Ballon d’Or crown. Buckle up, it’s going to be a wild ride and a somewhat lengthy one.
Coming in at number 20, we have the ever-reliable Bruno Fernandes from Manchester United. This lad is like the Energizer Bunny, going on and on with his relentless energy. He racked up the most minutes played in the 2022/23 season, scoring 14 goals and providing 15 assists. Talk about durability! And he’ll probably have a bit of a cry when he comes 20th – you can bet on that.
At number 19, we have Liverpool’s very own Mohamed Salah. Despite the struggles of his team, Salah continued to shine like a beacon of brilliance. With 30 goals and 16 assists to his name, he certainly made his presence felt on the pitch – just don’t ask him to take penalties, eh?
Now, brace yourselves for the young gun making waves at Arsenal. At number 18, we have Bukayo Saka, who narrowly missed out on the Premier League title with his impressive performances. The lad directly contributed to a whole 26 goals last season, scoring 15 times and assisting on 11 occasions. He certainly earned that massive new contract.
Moving on to number 17, we have Marcus Rashford, the electrifying forward from Manchester United. Rashford had a season to remember, scoring a somewhat surprising 30 times for his club. Boy, oh boy, he was on fire when he was available.
Our number 16 spot is reserved for none other than Jude Bellingham. This young Englishman caught our attention during the World Cup, where he shone brightly for his national team. But he didn’t stop there, folks. Bellingham also dazzled for Borussia Dortmund, narrowly missing out on the Bundesliga title as Dortmund found yet another way to bottle it. Bellingham has hot-footed it to Real Madrid as a result where he will wear number 5 for the club – probably the number of times he has multiplied his weekly wage by.
Sliding in at number 15 is Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva, who played a pivotal role in their treble-winning season. This lad was a standout performer and even secured a place in the Champions League Team of the Season. Not too shabby, eh? It’s even caught the eye of those pesky Saudi’s who would like to help him take early retirement.
At number 14, we have the ever-dependable Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur. Although his team failed to win any silverware, Kane still managed to find the back of the net 30 times in the Premier League. And trust me, in a team that bad that is a cracking effort. Will Bayern be his next destination? Don’t bet against him finding a way to stay in the EPL.
Next up, at number 13, we have Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez. This lad had a season to remember, featuring in Argentina’s World Cup-winning side and playing a crucial role in Inter’s Coppa Italia triumph and their run to the Champions League final. Talk about making an impact whilst having to carry Romelu Lukaku.
Now, folks, let’s give a round of applause for number 12, Manchester City’s very own Rodri. This Spaniard etched his name in history by scoring the winner in the Champions League final. He’s undoubtedly the best defensive midfielder in the world, and his contributions deserve all the recognition they can get. Yet, you can’t have a defensive midfielder win the Balon D’Or – that would be sacrilege.
Stepping onto the stage at number 11 is the prolific Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, who netted an impressive 31 goals in 39 appearances for Napoli this season. No wonder the big clubs are queuing up for his signature. His goals won Serie A and his face mask is proper cult.
Now, hold your horses because we’re getting into the top 10 territory, folks! And at number 10, we have the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, Karim Benzema. While he may not have reached the same heights as last year, Benzema still enjoyed a successful season, scoring 31 goals across all competitions and helping Real Madrid clinch the Super Cup, Club World Cup, and Copa del Rey. What a player! What’s that? He’s taken the Saudi money and run? Boo!
Sliding in at number 9 is the prolific Robert Lewandowski from Barcelona. With his 23 goals, he played a significant role in securing Barcelona’s first La Liga title since 2019. A true force to be reckoned with and still not replaced in Munich.
At number 8, we have Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who drew comparisons to the legendary Diego Maradona with his stunning displays in the 2022/23 season. Crowned the Serie A Most Valuable Player, he played a vital role in Napoli’s first league title in over three decades. Quite the achievement even if we still can’t say his name properly.
Now, get ready to applaud our number 7, Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez. This lad had a season to remember, winning the World Cup, FA Cup, Premier League, and Champions League. Talk about collecting trophies like it’s a hobby! Mind you, it’s easy if you’ve got Messi and Pep helping you.
Taking the number 6 spot is Manchester City’s unsung hero, Ilkay Gundogan. This German midfielder often flies under the radar, but his contributions are invaluable. Unfortunately, his contract with City is up this summer, and losing him is a massive blow for Pep Guardiola’s side. Barca is his new City.
And now, folks, we’re entering the top 5, where the competition gets fierce! At number 5, we have the sensational Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid. This young Brazilian has emerged as one of the best in the world, scoring 23 goals and providing 21 assists for his club last season. And the best part? He’s only 22 years old, which means he’s only going to get better – unless Madrid find a way to sign the guy who comes in at #4.
Ready for number 4? Well, here he comes! It’s none other than Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain. This lad won the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup, netting eight times for France. But that’s not all, folks. He also scored a jaw-dropping 41 goals in just 43 matches for PSG. Absolutely sensational! And to thank PSG he wants to do one – could it be to Madrid? Who knows – he won’t be cheap.
Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for our number 3, the maestro himself, Kevin De Bruyne from Manchester City. This midfield maestro finished third in the 2022 Ballon d’Or rankings, and we predict he’ll maintain that spot in 2023. His skills and vision on the field are simply a joy to behold even if he can’t get through a Champions League Final in one piece.
Now, get ready for the top two contenders, folks, because it’s getting intense! At number two, we have the incredible Erling Haaland from Manchester City. In his debut season, he set the world on fire, scoring a mind-boggling 52 goals as Manchester City secured a historic treble. What a sensation! What a man/robot! What a bargain at only £50-odd million.
And finally, ladies and gentlemen, the moment we’ve all been waiting for, the favourite to take home the 2023 Ballon d’Or crown. It’s none other than the legendary Lionel Messi from, er, Inter Miami. This man put in superhuman performances during Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 World Cup. With his unmatched skills and incredible displays, we believe Messi will secure his eighth Ballon d’Or title. A sympathy vote or purely recognition for what he did in 2022? That’s right, 2022. He actually didn’t do much in 2023 (so far) and you can’t see him making MLS much more than less rubbish than they are today.
So, there you have it, everyone! Our ranking of the 20 favourites for the 2023 Ballon d’Or. The stage is set, the anticipation is building, and we can’t wait to see who will be crowned the best in the world. Until then, let the speculation and chatter begin!
