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| FIFA Ballon D'Or Image via Twitter/@goal |
30 nominees for Ballon d'Or revealed last week.
Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe among favourites 90min ranks all the players on the shortlist
Note: The Ballon d'Or is now awarded based on results and achievements from the 2022/23 season
30. Randal Kolo Muani
Club: Eintracht Frankfurt (transferred to Paris Saint-Germain in September)
Country: France
Notable achievements: 15 goals and 14 assists in 32 Bundesliga games; part of France's World Cup squad that reached final
Fun fact: Can't be ruled out he was named after Steve Buscemi's character from Monsters Inc.
29. Andre Onana
Club: Inter (transferred to Manchester United in July)
Country: Cameroon
Notable achievements: 8 clean sheets during Inter's run to Champions League final
Fun fact: Described as 'like a holding midfielder' in UEFA's Technical Observers' report for 2022/23 season.
28. Josko Gvardiol
Club: RB Leipzig (transferred to Manchester City in August)
Country: Croatia
Notable achievements: Key part of Croatia squad that won bronze at World Cup
Fun fact: Decided against following father's footsteps of becoming a fisherman after just one journey out to sea.
27. Yassine Bounou
Club: Sevilla (transferred to Al Hilal in August)
Country: Morocca
Notable achievements: Player of the Match in Europa League final; key part of Morocco squad that reached semi-finals of World Cup
Fun fact: Was previously eligible to represent Canada.
26. Nicolo Barella
Club: Inter
Country: Italy
Notable achievements: Key part of Inter squad that reached Champions League final; won Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana
Fun fact: Avoided getting trapped in Wetherspoons by deciding against forcing a move to Newcastle.
25. Kim Min-jae
Club: Napoli (transferred to Bayern Munich in August)
Country: South Korea
Notable achievements: Key part of Napoli squad that won Serie A
Fun fact: The most expensive Asian player of all time by a considerable distance (£50m to £30m)
24. Emi Martinez
Club: Aston Villa
Country: Argentina
Notable achievements: Key part of Argentina squad that won World Cup
Fun fact: Real name is Damian thanks to a post office error
23. Mohamed Salah
Club: Liverpool
Country: Egypt
Notable achievements: 30 goals and 16 assists in 51 club games
Fun fact: Over a million people are believed to have voted for Salah in Egypt's presidential elections in 2018.
22. Harry Kane
Club: Tottenham Hotspur (transferred to Bayern Munich in August)
Country: England
Notable achievements: 30 goals in 38 Premier League games
Fun fact: Lining up career in the NFL once his football days are over.
21. Luka Modric
Club: Real Madrid
Country: Croatia
Notable achievements: Key part of Croatia squad that won bronze at World Cup; won Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup
Fun fact: One of only three nominees to have previously won the Ballon d'Or.
20. Bukayo Saka
Club: Arsenal
Country: England
Notable achievements: 14 goals and 11 assists in 38 Premier League games; PFA Young Player of the Year
Fun fact: Achieved four A*s and three As in his GCSEs, though he probably won't need to use those qualifications again.
19. Vinicius Junior
Club: Real Madrid
Country: Brazil
Notable achievements: Won Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup; 23 goals and 11 assists in 55 club games
Fun fact: His favourite film is Karate Kid.
18. Jude Bellingham
Club: Borussia Dortmund (transferred to Real Madrid in July)
Country: England
Notable achievements: 14 goals and 8 assists in 42 club games
Fun fact: Birmingham City still have his former 22 shirt retired and there's little to suggest that'll change.
17. Karim Benzema
Club: Real Madrid (transferred to Al Ittihad in June)
Country: France
Notable achievements: 31 goals in 43 club games; won Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup
Fun fact: Once described by MARCA as 'the new Anelka' as an insult.
16. Julian Alvarez
Club: Manchester City
Country: Argentina
Notable achievements: Key part of Argentina squad that won World Cup; won Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League with Manchester City
Fun fact: Helped Real Madrid win a youth tournament while on trial aged 11
15. Martin Odegaard
Club: Arsenal
Country: Norway
Notable achievements: 15 goals and 8 assists in 37 Premier League games
Fun fact: His dad had to give permission for Football Manager to use his likeness in the game as a 15-year-old wonderkid.
14. Antoine Griezmann
Club: Atletico Madrid
Country: France
Notable achievements: 15 goals and 17 assists in 38 La Liga games; key part of France squad that reached World Cup final
Fun fact: Has a dance move named after him in France.
13. Lautaro Martinez
Club: Inter Milan
Country: Argentina
Notable achievements: Won World Cup with Argentina; key part of Inter squad that reached Champions League final; 28 goals and 11 assists in 57 club games
Fun fact: Made his league debut for Racing Club in place of Inter legend Diego Milito
12. Bernardo Silva
Club: Manchester City
Country: Portugal
Notable achievements: Key part of Manchester City squad that won Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League
Fun fact: Has a pet bulldog named John Stones
11. Jamal Musiala
Club: Bayern Munich
Country: Germany
Notable achievements: Key part of Bayern Munich squad that won Bundesliga; scored title-winning goal in final minutes of season; 12 goals and 13 assists in 33 Bundesliga games
Fun fact: Spent one year in Southampton's academy
10. Robert Lewandowski
Club: Barcelona
Country: Poland
Notable achievements: Key part of Barcelona squad that won La Liga and Spanish Super Cup; top scorer in La Liga; 33 goals and 8 assists in 46 club games
Fun fact: Can thank an Icelandic volcanic eruption for not ending up at Blackburn Rovers
9. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Club: Napoli
Country: Georgia
Notable achievements: Key part of Napoli squad that won Serie A; 14 goals and 17 assists in 43 club games
Fun fact: Napoli fans have started to name their babies after him.
8. Ruben Dias
Club: Manchester City
Country: Portugal
Notable achievements: Key part of Man City squad that won Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League
Fun fact: Only became a defender because he switched positions at Benfica while the team was losing.
7. Ilkay Gundogan
Club: Manchester City (transferred to Barcelona in July)
Country: Germany
Notable achievements: Key part of Manchester City squad that won Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League; scored winning brace in FA Cup final
Fun fact: Cousin to Turkish volleyball star Naz Aydemir.
6. Victor Osimhen
Club: Napoli
Country: Nigeria
Notable achievements: Key part of Napoli squad that won Serie A; top scorer in Serie A; 31 goals and 5 assists in 39 club games
Fun fact: First African to win the Capocannoniere.
5. Rodri
Club: Manchester City
Country: Spain
Notable achievements: Key part of Manchester City squad that won Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League; scored winning goal in Champions League final
Fun fact: Bonded closely with Lucas and Theo Hernandez to the point they were like family as children.
4. Kevin De Bruyne
Club: Manchester City
Country: Belgium
Notable achievements: Key part of Manchester City squad that won Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League; 10 goals and 31 assists in 39 club games; Premier League Playmaker award
Fun fact: Was eligible to play for Burundi before choosing Belgium
3. Kylian Mbappe
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Country: France
Notable achievements: Key part of France squad that reached World Cup final; World Cup Golden Boot; key part of Paris Saint-Germain squad that won Ligue 1; top scorer in Ligue 1; 41 goals and 10 assists in 43 club games
Fun fact: Fluent in English and Spanish despite never living in those countries.
2. Erling Haaland
Club: Manchester City
Country: Norway
Notable achievements: Key part of Manchester City squad that won Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League; winner of Premier League Player, Premier League Young Player, FWA Footballer and PFA Players' Player of the Year awards; top scorer in Premier League; winner of European Golden Shoe; 52 goals and 9 assists in 53 club games
Fun fact: Sets the Champions League anthem as his alarm.
1. Lionel Messi
Club: Paris Saint-Germain (transferred to Inter Miami in July)
Country: Argentina
Notable achievements: Key part of Argentina squad that won World Cup; World Cup Golden Ball; scored brace in World Cup final; key part of Paris Saint-Germain squad that won Ligue 1; 21 goals and 20 assists in 41 club games
Fun fact: Everything there is to know about him is out in the open, what do you want from me?
